Following the French court's decision to sentence former President Nicolas Sarkozy to 5 years in prison, tensions have spread beyond the courtroom.
The spotlight was on his wife, former First Lady of France, Carla Bruni. After Sarkozy's brief statement to the media ended, Bruni lost her temper with reporters and cameras.
In a moment that has gone viral on social media, she is seen approaching the microphone of investigative media outlet Mediapart and nervously removing the sponge.
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This action, described as an emotional outburst, comes at a difficult time for the couple, while Sarkozy's conviction has caused a wave of reactions in France and beyond.
The footage is circulating widely on social media, while public opinion is divided over Bruni's behavior towards journalists.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Sarkozy has challenged the court's decision, which sentenced him to five years in prison this Thursday, finding him guilty of criminal conspiracy in connection with charges of illegal campaign financing from Libya.
"This decision is extremely serious for the rule of law. Hatred knows no bounds... If I have to sleep in prison, I will sleep in prison, but with my head held high... I am innocent. This injustice is a scandal... I will appeal; I will fight until my last breath ," Sarkozy declared after the decision.
Meanwhile, the lawyer for the Sherpa association, Vincent Brengarth, emphasizes the historical importance of the decision and the independence of the judiciary:
“This is the first time that a former president of the republic has ended up behind bars. This gives a sad picture, and no one should rejoice at the possibility of a former president ending up in prison. But at the same time, this confirms that we have an independent judiciary that knows how to show courage and authority, because it was not an easy decision to make, especially after they tried to discredit the case by claiming it was empty.”
Sarkozy's defense lawyer has opposed the decision, calling it unfounded.
"He was convicted on very strange grounds, which are actually a fabrication... The reason he was convicted is because he is supposedly accused of allowing his colleagues, Brice Hortefeux and Claude Gueant, to consider financing from Libya. What is very difficult for us is that there is no evidence, only assumptions ," the lawyer concludes.
These reactions come after former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy in a case related to receiving millions of euros in illegal funds from former Lebanese leader Muammar Gaddafi.
The Paris criminal court acquitted Sarkozy of all other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing, and ordered the 70-year-old to be taken to prison on a date to be communicated to him by prosecutors. The latter have a deadline of 1 month.