Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been ordered to report to La Santé prison in Paris on October 21 to begin a five-year sentence for criminal conspiracy linked to alleged election campaign funding from the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, becomes the first postwar French president—and the first former EU head of state—to serve a prison term. He previously wore an electronic tag for a separate corruption conviction but was released after three months under conditional terms.

Although he has appealed the current conviction, the nature of the sentence requires him to start serving it while the appeal process continues. A new trial is expected in approximately six months.

Sarkozy reportedly hosted around 100 friends and former collaborators in Paris last week in a farewell gathering, reiterating his innocence and stating: “I will ask for no advantages. When there is a cross to bear, you must bear it to the end.”

At La Santé, Sarkozy is expected to be housed in the VIP wing for vulnerable prisoners, offering individual 9-square-meter cells, one hour of exercise per day, and three weekly visits. Past high-profile inmates of La Santé include terrorist Carlos the Jackal and war criminal Maurice Papon. Patrick Balkany, former mayor of Levallois-Perret, described the wing as isolating but protective, shielding prisoners from other inmates and media attention.

Sarkozy was found guilty of criminal conspiracy but acquitted of three other charges, including corruption, misuse of Libyan funds, and illegal campaign financing. Prosecutors described his actions as entering a “Faustian pact of corruption with one of the most unspeakable dictators of the last 30 years.”

After sentencing, Sarkozy told reporters: “If they absolutely want me to sleep in jail, I will sleep in jail, but with my head held high.” He may petition the appeals court for release, but will remain in custody until a decision is made, which could take about two months.