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Nicolas Sarkozy announces return to French politics (video)
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his return to politics. On his Facebook page, he said he would seek the leadership of the opposition UMP party, widely seen as a first step towards a presidential bid in 2017. "I am a candidate to be president of my political family," Mr Sarkozy wrote. The statement ends months of speculation about the intentions of the 59-year-old conservative, who vowed to give up politics after he failed to be re-elected as president in 2012. The UMP party elections are due to be held in November. Nicolas Sarkozy was defeated by Francois Hollande in the 2012 election, becoming the first French president not to be re-elected for a second term since 1981.
