Return: Nicolas Sarkozy is set to announce  that he will stand for the French presidency in 2017 Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy is poised to launch his bid for re-election as leader in 2017, it was revealed today. Sarkozy, 59, is set to announce this weekend that he will stand for the presidency of the centre-right opposition UMP party, insiders said. The former leader had told journalists they would 'never hear from him again' after he lost the election to socialist Francois Hollande in the 2012 election. But he then announced last year that he was considering standing for re-election because the socialists were 'ruining France'.
@highlight
Nicolas Sarkozy, 59, says disastrous left-wing policies have 'ruined France'
@highlight
Claims he is left no choice but to stand against Francois Hollande in 2017
@highlight
Sarkozy says socialist president risks leaving France in a 'disastrous state'
@highlight
But his political comeback is understood to be opposed by wife Carla Bruni
@highlight
Said to have 'begged' Sarkozy not to stand because people are 'mean to him'
While his supporters are desperate for @placeholder to return to politics, the wider French population doesn't really care.