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Sarkozy ready to run in 2017 presidential primary

Ex-French president confirmed intention to step down as head of Les Républicains party before autumn vote on Right's presidential candidate.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed his intention of stepping down from being the head of the conservative party in order to run in presidential election primaries, reports FRANCE 24.

Sarkozy on Saturday told members of his party that this was his last meeting at that position.

Sarkozy, who lost the presidency in 2012 to Socialist Francois Hollande, has not hidden his ambition to run in France's 2017 presidential election.

The party's primaries are in November. Sarkozy is expected to face tough competition against 13 others in his party who have already declared their candidacies. So far, Sarkozy has not formally done so.

Read more of this report from FRANCE 24.