Paris, France – Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been assigned two security officers to serve as his bodyguards while serving a five-year prison sentence at La Santé prison in Paris. The confirmation came directly from France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nunez, who stated that the unusual security arrangement was necessary due to Sarkozy’s status as a former head of state and the threats against him.
Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was convicted in September for attempting to secure illegal campaign funding from former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. He was incarcerated at La Santé prison on October 21, 2025. The two bodyguards are stationed in a neighboring cell to Sarkozy’s and will ensure his safety during his detention.
The security arrangement has sparked strong reactions from within the prison system, with prison staff expressing their displeasure. Wilfried Fonck, head of the UFAP UNSa Justice union, called the situation an “insult to the profession of prison wardens,” stating that it’s unprecedented to have civilians serving as bodyguards inside a prison.
Sarkozy’s living conditions in prison are restricted, with solitary confinement and limited privileges. He is allowed one walk per day in a small yard and will be permitted visits three times a week. His legal team has requested his release pending his appeal trial, but they expect him to remain in jail for at least “three weeks to a month”.