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While he was transported at the Parisian detention facility this week, Nicolas Sarkozy published a declaration overflowing with opposition via social media, asserting, "This isn't a former president of the nation who is being jailed today, it's an innocent man." A court of appeal will in time give its view the accuracy of this assertion. But unfortunately for Mr Sarkozy, the drama and impact of his fall cannot simply be wished away.

The Conviction

The French head of state during the 2007-2012 term, the former president was convicted of criminal conspiracy to secure prohibited donations from the administration of the late Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi. Handed a five-year prison term, he has been recorded as the pioneering past president of an European Union nation to go behind bars, and the first French leader since the shamed head of wartime France, Philippe Pétain. Within a nation where the elected president holds a near-royal standing, this week's unprecedented scene was a historic occasion.

National Faith and Legal Consequences

In an era when trust in government bodies in France has collapsed to the degree where alarms are sounding, it was also a sobering reminder that everyone is subject to the law. According to a survey released recently, a majority of participants said that they believed a most of government figures were corrupt, and the vast majority reported that the majority behaved predominantly out of personal gain. In sentencing the former president and ordering that his sentence should begin without delay, the judge, Nathalie Gavarino, noted that she took into account both the profoundly severe aspect of the offences and the fact that they were "could damage the people's faith."

Courtroom Struggles

Those thoughts might be deemed typical, especially given that the ex-president has before been found guilty in separate corruption cases. However the former president's case and its consequences have troublingly exposed the scope to which across the country, as in other countries, the rule of law is endangered by a newly fashionable disrespect toward legal institutions and the attempted manipulation of societal perspectives.

Following a populist playbook, an exhaustive and meticulous legal process has been falsely depicted by Mr Sarkozy's supporters as a legal conspiracy and leftwing vendetta. Subsequent to the decision last month, the ex-leader publicly criticized his sentence as unlawful and censured the "hatred" with "no restraints" that supposedly drove it. Since prominent officials and advocates from the traditional and radical have dominated media discussions and conservative press with the same talking points, Ms Gavarino has been subjected to multiple threats.

Societal Feedback

Reassuringly, the population seems unconvinced. A post-verdict poll found comfortable majorities endorsing both the handling of the legal case and his conviction. Yet the turmoil, and the obvious try to undermine the reputation of the court system, was very likely only a preliminary test. Next year, Marine Le Pen's court petition against a judgment for misuse of campaign money will take place. If unsuccessful, the political candidate will be disqualified from competing in the future campaign.

Long-term Effects

In a polarised and mistrustful nation, that will be a perilous moment for the country's courts to manage. Mr Sarkozy may yet be released prior to his appeal hearing, subsequent to a petition by his attorneys. Yet the unfounded and damaging assaults on the judicial framework throughout his trial have created a negative standard.