French President Nicolas Sarkozy officially entered the 2012 race in a televised interview Wednesday night after delaying the announcement for months. “I am a candidate for the presidential election,” Sarkozy responded to a point-blank question, silencing a growing murmur about whether he would run for reelection. Polls have consistently shown Sarkozy, who is deeply unpopular with the French public, trailing socialist challenger François Hollande. A spokesman for the Parti Socialiste brushed off the announcement. “When Nicolas Sarkozy speaks, there are no flashing red lights, it’s just another mundane event.”
Read it at France 24
