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As he was transported at the Parisian detention facility this week, the former French leader shared a declaration overflowing with defiance via social media, asserting, "This isn't a former president of the republic entering prison today, it's an innocent man." The appeals judiciary will eventually give its view the veracity of this assertion. But unfortunately for the ex-president, the drama and significance of his decline cannot be ignored.

The Guilty Verdict

France's leader between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of illegal collaboration to acquire prohibited donations from the regime of the deceased Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi. Given a five-year prison term, he has emerged as the initial ex-head of an EU country to enter prison, and the first French leader since the shamed head of Vichy France, the Vichy leader. Within a nation where the elected president holds a almost king-like position, Tuesday's extraordinary spectacle was a seminal moment.

Citizen Confidence and Legal Consequences

During a period when trust in government bodies in France has collapsed to the degree where warning signs are evident, it was also a salutary demonstration that everyone is subject to the law. As per a study published this week, two-thirds of respondents indicated that they thought a large number of government figures were dishonest, and the vast majority reported that most behaved predominantly out of individual benefit. In sentencing Mr Sarkozy and mandating that his incarceration should start immediately, the court official, Nathalie Gavarino, declared that she factored in both the extremely serious character of the offences and the fact that they were "likely to undermine citizens' trust."

Judicial Threats

Those thoughts might be seen as ordinary, especially given that Mr Sarkozy has in the past been sentenced in separate corruption cases. However the Sarkozy trial and its fallout have troublingly exposed the scope to which across the country, as in different nations, the rule of law is jeopardized by a increasingly common disrespect toward legal institutions and the try to influence of the popular view.

Using divisive tactics, an comprehensive and precise legal process has been baselessly portrayed by his backers as a judicial plot and leftwing vendetta. Subsequent to the decision last month, the former president openly condemned his sentence as invalid and censured the "animosity" with "no limits" that supposedly drove it. Since prominent officials and backers from the conservative and extremist have filled the airwaves and traditional outlets with the same talking points, the judge has been subjected to various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Hearteningly, the population does not appear to be buying it. Research following the judgment found clear majorities backing both the conduct of the legal case and his punishment. Yet the turmoil, and the obvious try to damage the credibility of the judicial system, was most probably only a preliminary test. In January, Marine Le Pen's appeal against a judgment for embezzlement of political funds will take place. If unsuccessful, the far-right National Rally leader will be ruled out from running in the upcoming election.

Coming Consequences

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a risky period for the country's courts to manage. Mr Sarkozy might eventually exit ahead of his next legal challenge, subsequent to a petition by his lawyers. Yet the unfounded and damaging assaults on the court system throughout his trial have created a negative standard.