Hand in hand with his wife, former French president leaves for prison

At around 09:15 this morning, the former president left his apartment, accompanied by wife Carla Bruni, to arrive 25 minutes later in the “prison. La Santé” in the Montparnasse area, where the five-year sentence will begin.

Hundreds of supporters, including family, friends and former close Sarcozy associates, gathered in the early morning hours in front of his home in Paris's 16th Arrondission, singing in the French national anthem, “Marseljeza”.

The call for meetings was made by his son Louis Sarcozy, 28, who wrote on the social network: “All those who want to express their support to my father, we wait for you at 8:30 at the corner of Pierre-Guérin and Rue de la Source. We will be at his side to show our love, respect, and eternal loyalty”.

Sarkozy has been sentenced to the first degree of the judiciary for “criminalization” on the issue of Libyan financing for his 2007 presidential campaign.

Even current President Emmanuel Macro, despite criticism, has shown his human side to Sarcozy. He waited on Monday in Elise for more than an hour. “It's natural to expect one of my ancestors in such a situation, humanly speaking.”, Macron said.

Among the many figures expressing support were former Prime Ministers Edouard Balladur and Francisco began, as well as the leader of the National Convention, Marine Le Pen.

Though convicted, Sarcozy Enters prison as innocent “” pending appeal. He is expected to remain in prison for only a few weeks, due to 70 years of age and health, before being transferred to house arrest with electronic bracelets.

In an interview for “Le Figaro”, Sarcozy said: “My life is like a novel”. It will remain in an 11 square metres cell, with armoured windows, in isolation for security reasons. His cell neighbors will be traffickers and convicted of terrorism. The former president will not have a cell phone, but there will be a small television and the right to a one-hour walk a day, under the supervision of three guards.

From the list of allowed items he has received, Sarcozy has shown in a mood: “I may have sweat (traditional magrebine agreement), a prayer carpet, but not compass”. He may have a shawl (no longer than three feet [1 m] long), a fork, a knife with a round point, and a dish for cooking. He will also have the right to three meetings a week with family and friends, including Justice Minister Gérad Darman.

Prison authorities have suggested that they take ear plugs to not hear more convicts scream at night. For the first few days after entering the cell, Sarcozy has chosen to take along two books: Monte Christos”'s “Jesus”, a biographer by Jean-Christian Petitfils. /Periscope/