French justice minister's prison visit to Sarkozy sparks legal complaint by lawyers

By&nbspEuronews

Published on 31/10/2025 - 16:51 GMT+1

A sojourn by France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin to erstwhile President Nicolas Sarkozy successful situation has prompted a ineligible complaint.

Darmanin went to spot Sarkozy successful nan Santé Prison successful Paris connected Wednesday evening wherever he spent 45 minutes speaking to nan erstwhile caput of state.

On Thursday, a group of 30 lawyers lodged a title against Darmanin pinch nan Court of Justice (CJR) for "illegal taking of interest," saying that nan sojourn was an implicit show of support for Sarkozy.

The group of lawyers impeach nan justness curate of "undermining nan spot that citizens person successful nan justness system...and truthful nan spot of nan clients connected whose behalf they enactment each time arsenic lawyers."

"Mr Gérald Darmanin's actions are frankincense damaging their believe and image, making it basal to lodge this title pinch nan Commission des requêtes," nan lawyers added.

On Thursday, nan national of magistrates (USM) besides condemned nan visit.

Speaking to nan nationalist work broadcaster franceinfo, nan union's president, Ludovic Friat, called this "No mean visit."

"He (Darmanin) is not going location to inquire for a visiting room, he is going location arsenic a minister," arguing that Darmanin has a work to guarantee nan impartiality and independency of nan judiciary.

Sarkozy became nan first erstwhile French president successful surviving representation to beryllium imprisoned arsenic he began serving a five-year condemnation connected 21 October aft being recovered blameworthy of criminal conspiracy successful an effort to usage Libyan money to finance his 2007 predetermination campaign.

The president of France betwixt 2007 and 2012, Sarkozy will service his condemnation successful a situation that has housed immoderate of nan astir well-known inmates since nan 1800s.

In an unprecedented judgement past month, nan Paris judge ruled that Sarkozy would commencement serving situation clip without waiting for his entreaty to beryllium heard owed to "the seriousness of nan disruption to nationalist bid caused by nan offence."

Under nan ruling, nan erstwhile French president tin only record a petition for merchandise to nan appeals tribunal erstwhile he is down bars. Judges will past person up to 2 months to process nan request.

"An guiltless man is being locked up," he said en way to La Santé.

Sarkozy mentioned plans to constitute a caller book during his clip successful situation and has taken 3 literate companions pinch him, nan maximum allowed by inmates.

He told French outlet Le Figaro he is bringing Alexandre Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo" (in 2 volumes) and a curriculum vitae of Jesus Christ.

Darmanin said a time aft Sarkozy entered situation that he would beryllium protected by 2 constabulary officers stationed successful neighbouring cells astatine each times.