French Justice Minister Faces Legal Complaint Over Sarkozy Prison Visit

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin visited former President Nicolas Sarkozy in La Santé prison, sparking controversy and a legal complaint from about 30 lawyers accusing Darmanin of an "illegal conflict of interest" and undermining trust in the judicial system. The visit, which lasted 45 minutes and included discussions about Sarkozy's security arrangements, was criticized as showing implicit support for Sarkozy, who is serving a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy related to Libyan campaign financing. Darmanin expressed sadness over Sarkozy's conviction and maintained the visit was to ensure adequate security for the former president's "exceptional status." The complaint was filed with the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), which handles cases involving government ministers, citing concerns about impartiality and judicial independence. Meanwhile, Sarkozy's legal team has requested his release pending his appeal trial, with the Paris Court of Appeal set to examine this request on November 10. The controversy has drawn condemnation from judicial unions and prosecutors, who warned that Darmanin's actions could undermine the justice system's credibility ahead of Sarkozy's upcoming appeal trial scheduled for March 2026.