The 70-year-old leader arrived at La Santé prison in Paris, marking one of the most dramatic downfalls in modern French politics.
Sarkozy, who ruled France from 2007 to 2012, left his residence hand in hand with his wife, former model and singer Carla Bruni. As he departed, dozens of supporters gathered outside, chanting “Nicolas, Nicolas” and singing the French national anthem, La Marseillaise.
The former conservative president was found guilty last month of taking millions in illicit funds from Libya’s late leader Muammar Gaddafi to finance his 2007 election campaign. The verdict made Sarkozy the first French president to be imprisoned since World War II-era leader Marshal Philippe Pétain, who was convicted of collaborating with the Nazis.
Sarkozy has consistently denied all allegations, calling the case politically motivated. His lawyers have said they plan to appeal the verdict.
The sentencing of Nicolas Sarkozy has sent shockwaves through French politics and beyond. Once seen as one of Europe’s most influential leaders, Sarkozy’s imprisonment highlights growing judicial scrutiny of corruption at the highest levels of power. Analysts believe this case will set a precedent for political accountability in France, signaling that no one is above the law, no matter how powerful.
Shortly after he headed for La Sante, Sarkozy published a long message on X in which he claimed to be a victim of revenge and hatred.
"I want to tell (French people), with the unshakable strength that is mine, that it is not a former president of the Republic who is being imprisoned this morning — it is an innocent man," he said.
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Sarkozy s conviction capped years of legal battles over allegations that his 2007 campaign took millions in cash from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was later overthrown and killed during the Arab Spring uprisings.
While Sarkozy was found guilty of conspiring with close aides to orchestrate the scheme, he was acquitted of personally receiving or using the funds.
He has consistently denied wrongdoing and has called the case politically motivated.
His lawyers said they had filed a request for early release, pending his appeals trial, and that they expected this request to be reviewed in about a month. They said they hoped they could get Sarkozy freed on early release by Christmas.
SARKOZY TO BE HELD IN ISOLATION UNIT
Sarkozy will likely be held in La Sante s isolation unit, where inmates are housed in single cells and kept apart during outdoor activities for security reasons.
Conditions are similar to the rest of the prison: cells measure 9 to 12 square meters (100 to 130 square feet) and, following renovations, now include private showers.
Sarkozy will have access to a television - for a monthly fee of 14 euros ($16) - and a landline telephone.
Sarkozy told Le Figaro he would take three books for his first week behind bars, including Alexandre Dumas "The Count of Monte Cristo" - the story of a man who is unjustly imprisoned and who plots his revenge against those who betrayed him.
The decision to jail a former president has sparked outrage among Sarkozy s political allies and the far right.
"Nicolas Sarkozy is not a criminal," said Sarkozy supporter Jacqueline Fraboulet, who was among the crowd cheering him on Tuesday. "We actually feel like the justice system is taking the power, and that s not good for France."
Sarkozy s children and brothers also attended the gathering. Sarkozy, looking sombre, waved at his supporters before heading into his car for the journey to La Sante.
FRANCE GETS TOUGHER ON WHITE-COLLAR CRIME
The sentencing reflected a shift in France s approach to white-collar crime. In the 1990s and 2000s, many convicted politicians avoided prison altogether.
Despite his legal troubles, Sarkozy s political influence has proved resilient as French society has shifted to the right.
President Emmanuel Macron, who had warm relations with Sarkozy and Bruni, said on Monday he had met Sarkozy ahead of his incarceration. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said he would visit him in prison.
That angered left-wing politicians who said Macron and Darmanin were breaching judicial independence.
The son of a Hungarian immigrant, Sarkozy became president in 2007, pledging to shake things up with pro-business reforms that would reinvigorate France s stagnant economy and elevate the country to the top table of global players.
Those efforts were quickly upended by the 2008-2009 economic crisis, and voters gave him little credit for raising the retirement age to 62 from 60 and loosening rules requiring a maximum 35-hour work week.
