Nicolas Sarkozy, the former President of France, has been serving time at the Santé prison in central Paris since his conviction on September 25, 2025. He was sentenced to five years in prison for leading a criminal organization, found guilty of allowing associates to seek funding from Libya for his 2007 election campaign. Sarkozy has appealed the conviction.
His imprisonment marks an unprecedented event in French history, and the former president is reportedly receiving special treatment within the facility.
Visits and Privileges
Sarkozy reportedly receives the highest number of visits at Santé prison, allowed to see his family up to four times per week. By law, pre-trial detainees are entitled to at least three weekly visits, but overcrowding—prison capacity currently at 180%—usually prevents this. His wife, Carla Bruni, has visited him four times in the past week, escorted directly to the visiting area by prison staff, even outside regular visiting hours. Each visit lasts about an hour, slightly longer than the standard 45 minutes for other prisoners.
Food and Daily Life
Sarkozy is held in solitary for security reasons and has no contact with other inmates. While he technically eats the same meals as other prisoners, he reportedly prefers sandwiches brought by his wife and shops from the prison canteen, ordering items from the official menu.
Security remains a top concern. After a video circulated online threatening Sarkozy, the prison has reserved four cells in the isolation wing exclusively for him: his own cell, a cell for the security officers assigned to him, and two empty cells on either side to ensure no neighbors.
