Kathmandu: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has unexpectedly emerged as a best-selling author, even as his legal challenges continue to mount. His newly released book, Diary of a Prisoner, which recounts his recent time behind bars, has recorded remarkable sales within days of publication.

According to publisher Fayard, the book has sold 98,610 copies in less than a week. The 70-year-old Sarkozy wrote the 216-page memoir based on his three-week imprisonment during October–November. He is currently touring across France to meet readers and supporters.

Life Inside Prison
In the book, Sarkozy offers a candid account of life inside Paris’s La Santé prison. He describes the noisy environment, poor-quality food and the everyday hardships he faced as a former head of state. Analysts say the memoir aims not only to depict the realities of French prisons but also to convey a broader political message.

Political Signals and the Right-Wing Question
Sarkozy, a former leader of the right-wing Republican Party, also touches on contemporary politics. He hints at the possibility of an alliance between the traditional right and Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration party, revealing details of past conversations with the far-right leader. He emphasizes the need for unity and wider cooperation to revive right-wing forces in France.

Legal Cases Continue
In September, Sarkozy was convicted of accepting illegal financial support from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 presidential campaign and sentenced to five years in prison. However, he was released after serving 20 days, following a court order granting conditional release.

Separately, Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni, are also facing charges related to an alleged attempt to bribe a key witness. The couple have denied all allegations.

Despite these legal challenges, Sarkozy continues to remain an influential figure in French politics—now also drawing attention as a popular author whose prison memoir has struck a chord with readers nationwide.