Sarkozy announces his candidacy for 2017 presidential election
Former French president Nicholas Sarkozy announced on Monday that he will seek his party’s nomination to run for the presidential office in next year's election.
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Sarkozy, who was president between 2007 and 2012, lost to François Hollande when he stood for re-election in 2012.
“I have decided to be a candidate in the 2017 presidential election,” Sarkozy, who was President between 2007 and 2012, wrote in a foreword to a released book titled ‘Tout pour la France’ (Everything for France) which will be released on Wednesday.
“The next five years will be filled with danger but also with hope,” the 61-year-old leader of the Les Republicains party wrote.
Sarkozy said France’s “top battle” was over how “to defend our lifestyle without being tempted to cut ourselves off from the rest of the world.”
Twelve other persons are interested to participate in the first primary of the centre-right party which will take place from November 20 to 27. According to polls, former prime minister and current mayor of Bordeaux, Alain Juppé, is the favourite ahead of Sarkozy.
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