France: Sarkozy Dips a Toe Back In

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/07/world/europe/france-sarkozy-dips-a-toe-back-in.html

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Former President Nicolas Sarkozy has sent a strong signal, through friends quoted in an article to be published on Thursday, of his supposedly reluctant willingness to return to politics out “of duty, and only because it is for France.” His remarks will be published in a center-right magazine, Valeurs Actuelles, whose editors said they had not spoken directly with Mr. Sarkozy but with close associates, who presumably did so with his encouragement. Mr. Sarkozy, 58, who narrowly lost his attempt at re-election in May, said that politics “bores him to death,” but that “sadly, there may come a moment when the question is no longer, ‘Do you want to?’ but, ‘Do you have a choice?’ ” He predicted a “social crisis” and a “financial crisis of an uncommon violence.” Mr. Sarkozy’s comments were greeted with pleasure by his supporters and derision by his critics.