Sarkozy book tops French bestseller list

PARIS - Agence France-Presse

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A new book in which Nicolas Sarkozy launched his campaign to retake the French presidency shot to the top of the country's bestseller list Thursday.

"All for France" sold 32,000 copies in the three days after its release last week according to the magazine that publishes the list, Livres Hebdo.
 
Another book -- "France for Life" -- published in January by the pugnacious rightwinger who led France from 2007 to 2012, has already sold 195,000 copies.
 
The outspoken politician -- who had been trailing his rival Alain Juppe for the centre-right Republicans' nomination for next year's election -- has seen his poll ratings rise in recent weeks with his hard line on Islam and immigration.
 
In his new book, Sarkozy -- who has weighed in strongly in support of the controversial burkini ban -- also advocates massive tax cuts and vows to be a ferocious defender of France's secular "way of life".
 
"France demands that you give her your all," he wrote.    

"I feel I have the strength to lead the fight at such a turbulent moment in our history," he added, alluding to the string of terror attacks that have rocked the country since January 2015.
 
"The next five years will be filled with danger but also with hope."  

The centre-right is in a strong position to win the presidential race next May, with their candidate likely to face Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front (FN), in a second round run-off.