Nicolas Sarkozy is back where he used to be – dominating the news and dividing the nation.
Thirteen years after he left office, he is about to become the first former French president to be sent to prison after getting a five-year term for criminal conspiracy.
And the circumstances are full of the same sulphurous contention that used once to mark his every move.
Fresh from his sentencing in the Libyan money trial, he expressed outrage about the limitless hatred he felt was directed toward him.
From the moment he emerged as a champion of the right, Sarkozy was convinced he was a target of a left-wing cabal within the French judiciary and media.
His supporters question why the court found him guilty on only one of four charges while exonerating him from charges related to illegal party funding and embezzlement.
The harshness of the penalty has sparked debate, particularly as it comes two decades after the alleged offense, raising questions about the justice system's timing and motivation.
While he has previous convictions for corruption, there are those who see his latest sentence as an extreme reaction perhaps fueled by ongoing political tensions within France.
The implications of Sarkozy's case resonate throughout a politically divided nation, with right-wing supporters crying foul over judicial bias while the left criticizes perceived privilege among the elite.
Even though Sarkozy's time in power is past, his conviction reveals deep societal rifts as both factions continue to argue about his legacy and the integrity of the legal system.
