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As he arrived at the Parisian detention facility on Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy published a declaration filled with defiance via social media, writing, "This isn't a former president of the nation facing incarceration this morning, but rather an wrongfully accused individual." The appeals judiciary will eventually rule on the veracity of that statement. Yet sadly for Mr Sarkozy, the turmoil and impact of his downfall cannot be dismissed.

The Guilty Verdict

France's leader between 2007 and 2012, the former president was judged culpable of illegal collaboration to secure illegal financing from the regime of the late Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Handed a half-decade incarceration, he has been recorded as the pioneering past president of an EU country to be imprisoned, and the first French leader since the disgraced head of the Vichy regime, the Vichy leader. Across France where the elected president enjoys a almost king-like position, the recent remarkable event was a defining instance.

Citizen Confidence and Legal Consequences

In an era when faith in political institutions in France has plummeted to the extent where the lights are flashing red, it was also a sobering reminder that the law applies to all. According to a survey issued this week, over 65% of those surveyed stated that they felt a large number of politicians were corrupt, and almost 90% reported that the majority acted mainly out of personal gain. When convicting the former president and ordering that his prison term should begin without delay, the court official, the judicial authority, declared that she factored in both the extremely serious character of the offences and the fact that they were "potentially erode the people's faith."

Courtroom Struggles

These considerations might be deemed typical, notably because that the ex-president has previously been found guilty in distinct bribery proceedings. But the former president's case and its aftermath have alarmingly revealed the degree to which across the country, as in different nations, the legal system is endangered by a recently popular disrespect toward legal institutions and the effort to control of the popular view.

In Trumpian fashion, an comprehensive and precise legal process has been falsely depicted by his backers as a legal conspiracy and political retaliation. Following the ruling last month, the ex-leader openly condemned his sentence as illegal and condemned the "animosity" with "no restraints" that allegedly motivated it. Since high-ranking leaders and advocates from the right and far right have filled the airwaves and conservative press with the same talking points, Ms Gavarino has received multiple threats.

Public Response

Reassuringly, the citizens seems unconvinced. A survey after the ruling found comfortable majorities supporting both the proceedings of Mr Sarkozy's trial and his conviction. Yet the turmoil, and the naked attempt to weaken the standing of the legal system, was in all likelihood only a preliminary test. Next year, the far-right leader's appeal against a conviction for diversion of electoral finances will be heard. Should she lose it, the political candidate will be disqualified from running in the upcoming election.

Future Implications

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a dangerous time for the national legal system to manage. Mr Sarkozy could still be freed prior to his appeal hearing, subsequent to a petition by his legal team. Yet the unfounded and damaging assaults on the court system before, during and after his proceedings have created a negative standard.