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As he arrived at the Parisian detention facility this week, Nicolas Sarkozy posted a declaration overflowing with defiance via social media, asserting, "This isn't a former president of the nation who is being jailed today, it's an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary will eventually give its view the veracity of this assertion. But unfortunately for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and significance of his downfall cannot be dismissed.

The Guilty Verdict

The French head of state between 2007 and 2012, Mr Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy to secure prohibited donations from the administration of the former Libyan ruler, Muammar Gaddafi. Handed a five-year sentence, he has emerged as the initial ex-head of an European Union nation to be imprisoned, and the first French leader since the shamed head of Vichy France, the Vichy leader. In a country where the elected president enjoys a near-royal standing, the recent unprecedented scene was a seminal moment.

Public Trust and Legal Consequences

In an era when faith in political institutions in France has declined drastically to the extent where the lights are flashing red, it was also a salutary demonstration that everyone is subject to the law. According to a survey issued recently, a majority of participants said that they believed a large number of politicians were corrupt, and almost 90% said that the majority operated primarily out of personal gain. When convicting the former president and directing that his sentence should commence promptly, the judge, Nathalie Gavarino, declared that she factored in both the exceptionally grave nature of the crimes and the fact that they were "could damage citizens' trust."

Courtroom Struggles

Those thoughts might be considered unexceptional, particularly since that Mr Sarkozy has before been found guilty in distinct bribery proceedings. But the legal proceedings and its aftermath have alarmingly revealed the degree to which within the nation, as in various states, the rule of law is threatened by a increasingly common disdain for courts and the attempted manipulation of the popular view.

Following a populist playbook, an thorough and detailed legal process has been falsely depicted by his backers as a courtroom scheme and political retaliation. After the verdict recently, the former president openly condemned his judgment as invalid and censured the "hatred" with "no boundaries" that supposedly drove it. Since prominent officials and supporters from the traditional and radical have saturated public discourse and traditional outlets with the identical arguments, Ms Gavarino has been subjected to various menaces.

Citizen Reaction

Hearteningly, the citizens seems unconvinced. A survey after the ruling found significant majorities endorsing both the handling of the legal case and his conviction. But the drama, and the blatant effort to damage the credibility of the judicial system, was in all likelihood just a trial run. During winter, the National Rally figure's legal challenge against a conviction for diversion of electoral finances will occur. If the appeal fails, the far-right National Rally leader will be disqualified from running in the future campaign.

Long-term Effects

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a perilous moment for the country's courts to navigate. Mr Sarkozy might eventually exit ahead of his next legal challenge, after an application by his legal team. Yet the unfounded and damaging assaults on the judicial framework throughout his trial have set a damaging precedent.