1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: Devin gray are UK euro correspondent, given extraordinary scenes. 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 2: Ryan, Yes, he becomes the first French ex president to 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 2: go to jail. He's starting a five year sentence for 4 00:00:12,440 --> 00:00:16,120 Speaker 2: conspiring to fund his election campaign with money from the 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 2: late Libyan dictator Mohamaga Daffi. He denies this. Nevertheless, he 6 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 2: has been sentenced to this time behind bars. And the 7 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 2: last French leader of a political party was sentenced eighty 8 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,880 Speaker 2: years ago to prison. That was for treason for being 9 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 2: a collaborator during World War Two. So this is a 10 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: really really monumental moment. Sarkas he was president from two 11 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 2: thousand and seven to twenty twelve, and as I said, 12 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 2: he has appeared against his jail term. But it's going 13 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 2: to be pretty tough in there. The Montpasse district south 14 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 2: of the River Seine, which is where this nineteenth century 15 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 2: prison is, it's notoriously overcrowded. He'll be in isolation in 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 2: a cell that's roughly nine to eleven square meters and 17 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 2: he will in that have a desk, a shower, a toilet, 18 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 2: a small electric hob and a small fridge. But this 19 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 2: is a huge comedown for the former president and allowed 20 00:01:13,280 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 2: just one hour a day for exercise. It seems really 21 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,480 Speaker 2: pretty tough. Indeed so tough that at the end of 22 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 2: the last week, Sarkas was received at the Elisee Palace 23 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: by President Emmanuel Macron. He wouldn't comment on what had 24 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 2: happened to one of his predecessors, but he said, you know, 25 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 2: as a former president, he's entitled to come. And in 26 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,279 Speaker 2: another show of support for the ex president, the Justice 27 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,919 Speaker 2: Minister said he would go to visit him in prison 28 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:40,680 Speaker 2: as part of his role in ensuring his safety and 29 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 2: the proper functioning of the jail. Safety a big issue. 30 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: There are some terrorists in the prison and there are 31 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:50,160 Speaker 2: also some very very heavy criminals. Shall I phrase it 32 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 2: that way? 33 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: It's all about Messi over there, isn't that the politicians 34 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,760 Speaker 1: and their brushes with the Lord Because Lapina is still bad, 35 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: isn't she from running for president over there? Yes? 36 00:02:01,880 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 2: Yes, that could change. 37 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: Kevin Gray are UK you're a correspondent. For more from 38 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live to news Talks 39 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: it'd be from five am weekdays, or follow the podcast 40 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: on iHeartRadio.