Sarkozy as a prisoner: A president in the shadow of literary myths!

Sarkozy as a prisoner: A president in the shadow of literary myths!

In recent days, the imprisonment of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has made waves. October 26, 2025 marks not only his entry into La Santé prison, but also the beginning of a new chapter in his political and personal staging. In the French media landscape he is stylized as a victim of a global conspiracy - a portrayal that puts him close to literary heroes such as Edmond Dantès from “The Count of Monte Cristo” or even Jesus Christ. The political scientist François Hourmant emphasizes how Sarkozy uses victim-based rhetoric to position himself against judicial hostility. The judges' “hatred” attitude towards him is highlighted as a central motive to justify his imprisonment. The entire process reflects the populist and illiberal tendencies that are successful in today's political communication. Le Monde reports that Sarkozy is drawing on his literary role models to create a new narrative, which can also be observed in the political rhetoric of other former presidents such as François Mitterrand and Emmanuel Macron.

As expected, Sarkozy has also carefully orchestrated the narrative of his personal fate. Before his last-minute arrival in La Santé, his supporters celebrated in the streets of Paris, singing patriotic songs such as “La Marseillaise.” He was met with applause and even shouts of “Libérez Nicolas!” received, which further increases the emotional charge of his status as a political martyr. Philippe Moreau Chevrolet, a political communications expert, highlights that Sarkozy has successfully taken control of the narrative surrounding his imprisonment. He presented himself as innocent on social media and announced that he would fight the “judicial scandal.” He used this comparison to place himself in the tradition of Alfred Dreyfus and to denounce the perceived injustice of the justice system. This strategic communication is not only clever, but also of central importance in today's media landscape and central to increasing voter acceptance. La Dépêche

Literature and power

Let's look further at the role of literature in political communication: Historian Christian Jouhaud speaks of the "littérarisation du pouvoir" in France, in which politicians use literature to idealize themselves. Sarkozy is no exception; the way in which he presents himself as innocent has typical features of populist rhetoric. This goes hand in hand with a changing perception of words in the political arena, as well as the media Deutschlandfunk emphasize. The targeted use of certain words and phrases is becoming increasingly common to activate voter emotions and strengthen political positions.

Another interesting aspect of this story is the meeting between Sarkozy and incumbent President Emmanuel Macron shortly before his imprisonment. This meeting, confirmed by the presidency, suggests that Macron is also concerned about the image of the office. At a time when the prison of a former president is being discussed in public, this can be interpreted as a gesture to maintain social peace and protect the integrity of political institutions.

In conclusion, Nicolas Sarkozy's imprisonment not only shapes his personal history, but also acts as a reflection of the current political climate in France. The art of communication, the fluctuations between populism and literary production, as well as the media shaping of its narratives have far-reaching implications for political engagement today.