Sarkozy 5-year sentence: In US & Brazil, prosecutions of political leaders often seen as politicised

The five-year sentence handed down to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy marks a profound moment for France, not necessarily as a political tragedy, but as a democratic milestone. From a "purely institutional" standpoint, this strengthens public trust in France’s judicial system, explains Renaud Foucart, Economist and Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics at Lancaster University Management School. Despite being a towering figure in the center-right, and a confidant of Emmanuel Macron, Sarkozy was not too powerful to face justice. In a time when Marine Le Pen’s own eligibility is under scrutiny, this verdict signals to voters: No one is above the law.