Editorial: Le Monde

• The sentencing of Nicolas Sarkozy in the so-called 'wiretapping' case is a political earthquake.
• This is the first time under the Fifth Republic that a former president receives such a harsh punishment for such serious charges of corruption and influence-peddling.
• The former president, despite proclaiming his innocence, faces the penalty of three years' imprisonment with one year firm under electronic surveillance.
• Despite his influential position, he used a secret telephone line to communicate with his lawyer, fearing that the official line was tapped.
• This case reveals Sarkozy's most questionable side, a side where political battle and struggle against judicial power intertwines.
• Sarkozy, by portraying himself as a victim, managed to galvanize supporters and lead the right-wing party into a concerning drift where justice and rule of law are increasingly disrespected.

Conclusion: The Sarkozy case signals concern over the vulnerability of the French judicial and political system, and the responsibility of politicians to respect the law.

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