He doesn’t really want to, but “duty” could force former French President Nicolas Sarkoy to launch a political comeback and seek the nation’s highest office once again, come 2017.
Mr. Sarkozy, a conservative, lost his reelection bid to Socialist Francois Hollande in May. Since, Mr. Hollande has been stung by lagging popularity ratings due, in part, to blooming fiscal European crises and widespread unemployment.
Mr. Sarkozy said he’s been enjoying his time away from the public arena with his daughter and ex-wife, but circumstances could compel a return to the campaign trail, Agence France-Presse reports.
“There will unfortunately come a time when the question will no longer be ’Do you want to [run for office]?’ but ’Do you have any choice?’ In this case, I won’t be able to keep saying, ’I’m happy, I take my girl to school, I go to conferences all over the world. ’ In this case, I will be required to [seek office],” he said, AFP reported.
But, he added, any campaign to come would be “not be desire,” AFP reports. “By duty. And only because it is France.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.