In a startling setback for a man who led France from 2007 to 2012, former President Nicolas Sarkozy began serving a five-year sentence on Tuesday for plotting to raise campaign funding from Libya. He arrived at La Santé prison in Paris.

In a startling setback for a man who led France from 2007 to 2012, former President Nicolas Sarkozy began serving a five-year sentence on Tuesday for plotting to raise campaign funding from Libya. He arrived at La Santé prison in Paris.

The 70-year-old former conservative president walked hand in hand with his wife, Carla Bruni, as he left his house for the drive to the prison, accompanied by a chorus of supporters who sang the national anthem, La Marseillaise, and chanted, “Nicolas, Nicolas.”

Sarkozy claimed to be the target of hatred and retaliation in a lengthy message posted on X shortly after leaving for La Sante.