Nicolas Sarkozy's wife has posted a smouldering picture welcoming the former French president into their home after he was sentenced to a year of house arrest.
Supermodel Carla Bruni, 53, shared a photograph to Instagram showing her embracing her husband in her arms alongside a lengthy swathe of text written by Sarkozy in French to thank his supporters.
Sarkozy was handed a 12-month sentence by a judge after being found guilty of illegal campaign financing in the 2012 election.
The judge at Paris's Correctional Court said the 66-year-old, who held office from 2007 to 2012, could serve his term from home - where he will have to wear an ankle bracelet.
Prosecutors had been asking for at least six months of actual jail time for Sarkozy, along with a six-month suspended sentence. His legal team have filed an appeal, which effectively suspends the sentence until their case is heard.
Supermodel Carla Bruni, 53, shared a photograph to Instagram showing her embracing Sarkozy in her arms inside their home alongside a lengthy swathe of text in French
Nicolas Sarkozy, who was French President from 2007 until 2012, has been sentenced to one year in jail which he can serve at home with an ankle bracelet over campaign finance violations
Bruni was photographed on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday night, seemingly unfazed by the impending verdict.
Bruni posted a message from her husband to Instagram which translated to English as: 'I thank you from the bottom of my heart all those who have stood by me to demonstrate their friendship at the moment when I have been condemned for having exceeded the limit of my campaign accounts during the 2012 presidential election.
'Your constant, faithful, courageous support gives me the confidence to pursue this fight if necessary for truth and justice. I ask simply that the same rights are applied for me as would be for any other litigant.
'Yet this has been once again scorned by the ignorance of the decisions of the constitutional council. We can’t be punished twice for the same deeds. It’s the reason for which I have filed an appeal so that the court rules.
'I will keep going with this quest which exceeds my personal case because everyone could one day find themselves faced with injustice. It’s the certainty of justice which gives me the energy to overcome the challenges and resist empty attempts at humiliation.
Bruni posted a message from her husband to Instagram which translated to English as: 'I thank you from the bottom of my heart all those who have stood by me'
'I will be happy to see you this Saturday in Paris, at 11am at the Lamartine library. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Nicolas Sarkozy.'
Bruni was photographed on the catwalk at Paris Fashion Week on Wednesday night, seemingly unfazed by the impending verdict.
Thursday's sentence comes six months after Sarkozy was handed another one-year jail term with two years suspended for trying to bribe a judge.
At the time, Bruni called the verdict 'senseless harassment' while vowing to fight on so 'truth will see the light'.
Sarkozy's legal team have also lodged an appeal in that case, meaning he remains a free man for the time being.
His legal woes are set to continue, however, with more corruption cases pending including allegations that he received millions in laundered money from former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi.
Bruni, Sarkozy's wife, who has staunchly defended him against corruption
