French President Nicholas Sarkozy on Wednesday formally confirmed plans to seek re-election in the presidential elections scheduled for April, just 10 weeks ahead of the polls.
Even before his confirmation, Sarkozy was almost certain to contest in the elections. He had been appearing on television frequently and touring across France regularly in recent months to defend his policies and to gather public support. His actions are largely seen as part of his de facto campaign for re-election.
In an interview with France's TF1 channel on Wednesday, Sarkozy insisted his decision to seek re-election had been "serious" and "not automatic," and declared: "Yes, I am a candidate in the presidential election."
Presenting himself as "the captain of a boat in the heart of a storm," Sarkozy insisted that he had the right policies to ensure that France was not dragged down by the economic and debt crises threatening most EU nations.
"I took this decision because France, Europe and the world have for the last three years seen a series of unprecedented crises, which means that not seeking a new mandate from the French people would be abandoning my duties."
Pointing out that France had posted a higher growth than all other major European economies in the fourth quarter of 2011, Sarkozy said: "There are still too many people unemployed but our reforms are beginning to have an effect."
Sarkozy is seeking re-election as the candidate of the ruling center-right UMP party. Nevertheless, recent opinion polls indicate that his chief rival, Socialist candidate Francois Hollande, is currently the frontrunner to win the election.
Sarkozy attacked Hollande in his interview with TF1 channel, pointing out that his "respectable" rival is yet to put forward any ideas to tackle France's ongoing problems. The French President asked: "Where are the ideas he is going to put forward?"
Latest opinion polls suggest that Hollande will beat Sarkozy in the first round of elections by 28% to 24% and the run-off vote by 57% to 43%. The run-off is scheduled to be held on May 6 if none of the candidates in the first round manage to secure the minimum-required 50% of the votes polled for an outright victory.
The other candidates in the French presidential election fray are far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, Centrist Francois Bayrou, communist Jean-Luc Melenchon, Green candidate Eva Joly, and former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.
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