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The ex-president of France plans a book this autumn named A Prisoner’s Diary, detailing his experience spent in custody.

The revelation emerged less than two weeks following the former president gained freedom as he appeals his conviction for criminal conspiracy in a case to acquire political financing linked to the leadership of Muammar Gaddafi.

Time in Custody: Inner Thoughts

“Inside jail there is nothing to see, and activities are scarce,” he writes in an extract, suggesting the account centers around his reflections from seclusion as opposed to extensive analysis regarding the packed and troubled French prison system.

“Silence escapes me, not present at the prison, where there is a lot to hear,” he adds. “The din persists relentlessly. However, akin to empty spaces, inner life grows stronger in prison.”

Freedom Plea: Sharing the Struggle

At his release request hearing, Sarkozy had appeared via screen from inside the facility, describing his time inside as draining. He had told the court: “I want to pay tribute to all the prison staff, displaying remarkable compassion, and who helped make this ordeal manageable – since it’s deeply troubling.”

“I didn’t expect at this stage of life, I’d be in prison. It’s a hardship I must endure. It’s challenging, I acknowledge, deeply straining. It leaves a mark on any prisoner because it’s gruelling.”

First of Its Kind

Sarkozy, who led the nation for a five-year term, was the first former head of an EU country and the first leader since WWII of France to experience jail.

Ahead of his incarceration he declared he intended to spend the period to write a book.

Books in Prison

It is not certain did he manage to review and analyze the volumes he had in his cell: a biography of Jesus in two parts and Alexandre Dumas’s novel the famous story, a plot where a wrongfully accused individual ends up incarcerated then breaks out to exact retribution.

Life in Confinement

The former leader was placed secluded to protect him in a space roughly 100 square feet featuring a personal bathroom at La Santé prison located in the capital. Guards occupied an adjacent room.

Sources mentioned that he consumed only yoghurts in prison because he feared meals provided might have been spat on. He had facilities to cook for himself yet he declined, according to reports. It is uncertain if he will detail what he ate in prison.

Defense Viewpoint

Sarkozy’s lawyer, Christophe Ingrain daily throughout the jail term, informed the court he would be safer released compared to inside. “He has faced threats against his life, listened to yells during nighttime plus rapid actions in an adjacent room when a prisoner self-harmed.”

Legal Proceedings

Sarkozy went to prison on 21 October following a French court imposed five years in prison for criminal conspiracy related to a plan to secure political donations for his 2007 presidential race.

He maintains his innocence and is contesting the ruling, and another court case planned for early next year.