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Sarkozy set for return to politics in France Sarkozy announces return to politics in France
(about 3 hours later)
Nicolas Sarkozy is poised to announce a political comeback this weekend, after weeks of fevered speculation that the former French president was considering a bid for the Elysée Palace in 2017. Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his political comeback after weeks of speculation that the former French president was considering a bid for the Elysée Palace in 2017.
Friends and colleagues said a statement had been prepared for release on the former leader's Facebook page some time from Friday afternoon onwards. Sarkozy posted a statement on his Facebook page saying he would run for the leadership of France's centre-right political block, the UMP.
Brice Hortefeux, one of Sarkozy's closest friends and advisers, told Europe 1 radio on Friday morning: "Be patient … just a few more hours. All I can tell you is that Nicolas Sarkozy is coming back and that the time has come." "I am a candidate for the presidency of my political family," he said. "I propose turning it upside down to create within three months the conditions for a vast new movement that will address itself to all French people regardless of partisanship."
The comeback is expected to take the form of an announcement that Sarkozy is a candidate to head the centre-right UMP party that helped elect him as president of the republic in 2007. He was defeated in 2012 after one term in office by Socialist François Hollande. The UMP, riven with internal squabbling since Sarkozy's election defeat, will vote on a new leader at the end of November, giving the former president two months to campaign. His rivals are expected to be the former prime ministers Alain Juppé and François Fillon, the former employment minister Xavier Bertrand and some of the party's younger guard.
The UMP, riven with internal squabbling since Sarkozy's election defeat, will vote on a new leader at the end of November, giving the former president two months to campaign. His rivals are expected to be former prime ministers Alain Juppé and François Fillon, former employment minister Xavier Bertrand and some of the party's younger guard. The announcement will put an end to the will-he-won't-he speculation of the past two years. Before his defeat in 2012, Sarkozy had said that if he lost "nobody will hear of me again". However, few seriously expected the career politician to give up politics for good.
Any announcement will put an end to the phony will-he-won't-he speculation of the past two years. Before his defeat in 2012, Sarkozy had said that if he lost "nobody will hear of me again". However, few seriously expected the former leader and career politician to give up politics for good after leaving the Elysée two and a half years ago. Since then, Sarkozy has sent regular updates, nicknamed "postcards", to the French in the form of photo opportunities showing him and wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, leading a happy family life outside politics, and reports of his "new" career as a highly paid keynote speaker around the world. Behind the scenes, he has been meeting heads of state in a private capacity to maintain his contacts.
Since then, Sarkozy has sent regular updates, nicknamed "postcards", to the French in the form of photo opportunities showing him and wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy leading a happy family life outside of politics, and reports of his "new" career as a highly paid keynote speaker around the world. Behind the scenes, he has been meeting heads of state in a private capacity to maintain his contacts. French political analysts said Sarkozy could "officialise" his return in three stages: with the initial announcement on Facebook, followed by a series of articles in the regional press and finally a television appearance. "His biggest preoccupation today is the state of the country and what our compatriots are going through," Hortefeux said.
French political analysts said Sarkozy could "officialise" his return in three stages: with an initial announcement on Facebook, followed by a series of articles in the regional press and finally a television appearance. "His biggest preoccupation today is the state of the country and what our compatriots are going through," Hortefeux said. At his bi-annual press conference on Thursday, President François Hollande did not name Sarkozy but said: "Those who have governed yesterday and before yesterday have a perfect right to seek to govern tomorrow and after tomorrow. That's democracy."
At his biannual press conference on Thursday, Hollande did not name Sarkozy but said: "Those who have governed yesterday and before yesterday have a perfect right to seek to govern tomorrow and after tomorrow. That's democracy."
Fillon has been less rapturous about Sarkozy's eventual return, suggesting it was time for new blood to lead the UMP. "It would be good for a new generation to take responsibility … to lead our movement and overcome the financial and legal challenges."Fillon has been less rapturous about Sarkozy's eventual return, suggesting it was time for new blood to lead the UMP. "It would be good for a new generation to take responsibility … to lead our movement and overcome the financial and legal challenges."
Pascal Perrineau, director of the Sciences Po thinktank Cevipof said Sarkozy would have to change his behaviour if he returned. "And that's where the difficulty might be," Perrineau told Les Échos. "I think it's difficult to change personality. The Sarkozy 2012 lost. He lost, but at the time he didn't wanted to go back and examine his defeat and neither did his party. It will not be an easy exercise for him to go back and ask why didn't work then."Pascal Perrineau, director of the Sciences Po thinktank Cevipof said Sarkozy would have to change his behaviour if he returned. "And that's where the difficulty might be," Perrineau told Les Échos. "I think it's difficult to change personality. The Sarkozy 2012 lost. He lost, but at the time he didn't wanted to go back and examine his defeat and neither did his party. It will not be an easy exercise for him to go back and ask why didn't work then."
The UMP has declined to confirm reports of Sarkozy's comeback announcement and programme.The UMP has declined to confirm reports of Sarkozy's comeback announcement and programme.