PARIS (Reuters), – The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy lowered his charges of illegal campaign finance for his unsuccessful 2012 reelection bid. This suggests that many French people had reservations about the guilty verdict this week.

Sarkozy (66) made the first public remarks on the conviction, his second this year, during a Paris appearance to sign copies his book, “Promenades”, about his cultural and literary influences.

In spite of the verdict which Sarkozy stated was “very moving” and “very reassuring,” hundreds of people met the former leader at Lamartine to welcome him. They aren’t being fooled.

Sarkozy is still influential within conservative circles and was sentenced on September 30 to one year in prison. However, it’s unlikely that he will ever go to jail.

The defendant denies any wrongdoing. He has also vowed that he will appeal the sentence. This is a move which effectively suspends the sentence. However, the judge stated that he could still serve it at home using an electronic tag.

Although Sarkozy supporters have criticized the verdict for being politically motivated, this is his second conviction. This marks an abrupt fall from grace by the man who governed France between 2007 and 2012.

Sarkozy was also found guilty at a March trial of trying to influence and bribe a judge to gain confidential information in connection with a judicial inquiry. In that trial, he also denied any wrongdoing.

Sarkozy may have to be more discrete in his role at next year’s presidential race if he is convicted. While he did not intend to stand, it was expected that he would support his party’s candidate.

Potential presidential candidates that also belonged to Sarkozy’s Les Republicains party – Xavier Bertrand and Valerie Pecresse – sent a tweet message of support to Sarkozy, stating they backed the appeal decision.