Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty on Thursday of criminal conspiracy for seeking illegal campaign financing from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan regime ahead of his 2007 election victory. The verdict makes Sarkozy the first head of state in France’s modern history to face prison, marking a turning point in the country’s political and judicial landscape.

Next Steps Toward Imprisonment

According to Agence France-Presse, Sarkozy is due to appear before the Financial Prosecutor’s Office on October 13 to be informed of the terms of his detention. The arrest must take place within four months of that summons, meaning he could be behind bars by February 13. Judicial sources cited by AFP indicated that his incarceration is expected “in a relatively short time.”

Where He Could Be Held

While Sarkozy’s legal team told France Info that the designated prison remains unclear, several outlets have pointed to La Santé prison in Paris. RTL reported that a cell has already been prepared in the facility’s special “vulnerable persons” wing, where other high-profile political figures such as Patrick Balkany and Georges Tron have served sentences.

This section holds around 30 inmates, mainly public figures, and offers isolation from the general prison population, including separate outdoor areas. The prison has been recently renovated, with individual cells equipped with showers, phones, and access to television for a monthly fee, according to the International Prison Observatory, quoted by Reuters.

Special Conditions but Standard Procedures

Although conditions may appear more secure than in overcrowded facilities, union representatives stressed that treatment remains similar to that of ordinary detainees. Prison staff will process Sarkozy through the same intake procedures as any inmate, RTL reported.

While it is also emphasized that Frances former president will be held alone in a cell for his own safety, a measure deemed essential given his profile.

A Historic Case

Le Figaro highlighted that in theory Sarkozy could be sent to any detention center in the Île-de-France region. However, La Santé remains the most likely option due to its security arrangements and symbolic weight as one of France’s most iconic prisons.