Sarkozy declares he will run again

French president Nicolas Sarkozy said last night he will run for another five-year term in elections starting in April.

Sarkozy has lagged behind Socialist candidate François Hollande in opinion polls for months. Pollsters say the incumbent president will face an uphill battle to convince disillusioned voters they should elect him again.

He made the announcement on national television network TF1 last night, saying: “Yes, I am a candidate.”