Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed his return to frontline politics with a bid to enter next year’s French presidential election
Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed a return to the frontline of French politics with his entry in next year's presidential election.
Sarkozy has long been linked with a campaign, but the former President ended speculation with a statement on social media earlier this afternoon.
"I have decided to be a candidate for the 2017 presidential election. I felt I had the strength to lead this battle at a troubled time in our history," Sarkozy wrote on social media, ahead of the publication of a book called "Everything for France" on Wednesday.
Sarkozy was defeated in 2012 by Socialist candidate Francois Hollande, and would likely return as a candidate for the rebranded party Le Republicains, formerly the Union for a Popular Movement.
He stepped down as president of the conservative political group earlier this year to prepare for his presidential bid, but according to Reuters, more than a dozen contenders are vying for the party ticket as candidate, including main rival, Alain Juppe.