Sarkozy may ‘run for presidency in 2017’

France 24

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy speaks during the official opening ceremony of the Gathering Of All Leaders In Sport (GOALS) forum in Doha, on December 11, 2012. AFP PHOTO /KARIM JAAFAR / AL-WATAN DOHA

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy may run for office again in 2017, a senior member of his centre-right UMP party hinted on Wednesday.

When asked if Sarkozy would present himself as candidate in 2017, former foreign minister Alain Juppé told France’s Parliamentary Channel LCP, “I get the feeling that he will – even if it’s not for me to answer that question in his place.

“Nicolas Sarkozy is here in France, he follows politics with a great deal of attention and from our regular phone calls I can tell he is extremely vigilant,” Juppé added.

According to a January 6 IFOP poll, 67 per cent of UMP members favour Sarkozy’s return to politics after his defeat at the hands of Socialist opponent and current French President François Hollande in May 2012.

Sarkozy, however, has kept a relatively low public profile since losing the election, largely attending conferences abroad and giving private lectures.

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