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| Sarkozy Says He Will Seek Party Leadership | Sarkozy Says He Will Seek Party Leadership |
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| PARIS — Former President Nicolas Sarkozy used his Facebook page on Friday to announce that he would seek the presidency of his party, a first step toward declaring his candidacy to run once again for the presidency of France in 2017. | PARIS — Former President Nicolas Sarkozy used his Facebook page on Friday to announce that he would seek the presidency of his party, a first step toward declaring his candidacy to run once again for the presidency of France in 2017. |
| Mr. Sarkozy has been openly flirting with a comeback for most of the year, and his announcement, at the end of a difficult week for President François Hollande and his Socialist Party, came as a surprise to virtually no one. Still, it was likely to add another volatile element to French politics at a troubling economic time and to be taken as a measure of the deeply unpopular president’s political vulnerability. | Mr. Sarkozy has been openly flirting with a comeback for most of the year, and his announcement, at the end of a difficult week for President François Hollande and his Socialist Party, came as a surprise to virtually no one. Still, it was likely to add another volatile element to French politics at a troubling economic time and to be taken as a measure of the deeply unpopular president’s political vulnerability. |
| Within minutes of Mr. Sarkozy’s post, his emotional letter to his “dear friends” had registered hundreds of comments both for and against him. In his letter, Mr. Sarkozy concluded that he had needed to return to politics because it was a form of “abandonment to remain a spectator” when France’s politics were in such disarray. | Within minutes of Mr. Sarkozy’s post, his emotional letter to his “dear friends” had registered hundreds of comments both for and against him. In his letter, Mr. Sarkozy concluded that he had needed to return to politics because it was a form of “abandonment to remain a spectator” when France’s politics were in such disarray. |
| He promised to completely revamp his party, the Union for a Popular Movement, though he gave few specifics. He made no mention of his recent legal troubles, including the 18 hours he spent under questioning by the police and investigators in July over accusations of corruption and influence peddling related to the financing of his 2007 campaign. | He promised to completely revamp his party, the Union for a Popular Movement, though he gave few specifics. He made no mention of his recent legal troubles, including the 18 hours he spent under questioning by the police and investigators in July over accusations of corruption and influence peddling related to the financing of his 2007 campaign. |
| It was the first time a former president of France had ever been detained in such a manner. Mr. Sarkozy has since denied any wrongdoing and called the accusations against him grotesque and manipulated for political ends. | It was the first time a former president of France had ever been detained in such a manner. Mr. Sarkozy has since denied any wrongdoing and called the accusations against him grotesque and manipulated for political ends. |
| The French have a long history of embracing political comebacks, from Napoleon to former President Jacques Chirac, whose career had many ups and downs before he was able to come back and serve two terms as president starting in 1995. | |
| More recently, Alain Juppé, a former prime minister who was convicted in 2004 of political chicanery, returned to be foreign minister under Mr. Sarkozy and is now considered a viable potential candidate for the presidency of the country. | More recently, Alain Juppé, a former prime minister who was convicted in 2004 of political chicanery, returned to be foreign minister under Mr. Sarkozy and is now considered a viable potential candidate for the presidency of the country. |
| But Mr. Sarkozy faces a number of problems. In addition to being associated with a half-dozen continuing corruption cases, his political party is hugely in debt after having overspent during Mr. Sarkozy’s failed 2012 campaign. Mr. Sarkozy would also have to find a way to unify a party that has been rived by internal divisions. | |
| Yves-Marie Cann, a director at the polling institute CSA, said Mr. Sarkozy would also have issues trying to present himself as new candidate to the larger public. “He has not managed to recast his image,” Mr. Cann said. “He remains a divisive figure.” | Yves-Marie Cann, a director at the polling institute CSA, said Mr. Sarkozy would also have issues trying to present himself as new candidate to the larger public. “He has not managed to recast his image,” Mr. Cann said. “He remains a divisive figure.” |
| Recent polls have offered little good news for any of France’s traditional parties, left or right. | Recent polls have offered little good news for any of France’s traditional parties, left or right. |
| But the elections are a long way away, and much could happen to change that equation. The party primaries are not expected to take place until 2016. The presidential elections are set for 2017. | But the elections are a long way away, and much could happen to change that equation. The party primaries are not expected to take place until 2016. The presidential elections are set for 2017. |
| Until recently, Mr. Sarkozy did not seem to have the backing of many prominent members of the party, known as U.M.P. But endorsements by other U.M.P. officials have come fast and furious in the French news media in the last few weeks, many of them lauding Mr. Sarkozy for his energy and intelligence. There seems little doubt that he will win the presidency of U.M.P. He is enormously popular in the party. | Until recently, Mr. Sarkozy did not seem to have the backing of many prominent members of the party, known as U.M.P. But endorsements by other U.M.P. officials have come fast and furious in the French news media in the last few weeks, many of them lauding Mr. Sarkozy for his energy and intelligence. There seems little doubt that he will win the presidency of U.M.P. He is enormously popular in the party. |
| Some prominent Socialist officials concede that Mr. Sarkozy could make a formidable candidate. Still, Mr. Hollande won the 2012 campaign, at least in part by using Mr. Sarkozy’s record against him. In his speech Thursday, Mr. Hollande returned to this strategy, highlighting the unemployed figures during Mr. Sarkozy’s administration. | Some prominent Socialist officials concede that Mr. Sarkozy could make a formidable candidate. Still, Mr. Hollande won the 2012 campaign, at least in part by using Mr. Sarkozy’s record against him. In his speech Thursday, Mr. Hollande returned to this strategy, highlighting the unemployed figures during Mr. Sarkozy’s administration. |
| Carlos da Silva, a Socialist member of Parliament, said Mr. Sarkozy would be a candidate who needed to be taken seriously. “He can be dangerous,” he said. “But we are ready to face him and his record.” | Carlos da Silva, a Socialist member of Parliament, said Mr. Sarkozy would be a candidate who needed to be taken seriously. “He can be dangerous,” he said. “But we are ready to face him and his record.” |
| In his letter, Mr. Sarkozy ignored the investigation against him, focusing instead on his personal political evolution since leaving office. He said he had been able to analyze the course of his term, measure the vanity of certain feelings and talk to the French, without the weight of power distorting human relationships. He said he had found "despair, rejection and anger at the government rising, inexorably like a tide.” | In his letter, Mr. Sarkozy ignored the investigation against him, focusing instead on his personal political evolution since leaving office. He said he had been able to analyze the course of his term, measure the vanity of certain feelings and talk to the French, without the weight of power distorting human relationships. He said he had found "despair, rejection and anger at the government rising, inexorably like a tide.” |
| While some of those who posted on his Facebook page applauded his return, others made clear they found Mr. Sarkozy’s letter ridiculous. One commenter, in a reference to Italy’s disgrace former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, suggested that, “Our own Berlusconi is coming back to us!” | While some of those who posted on his Facebook page applauded his return, others made clear they found Mr. Sarkozy’s letter ridiculous. One commenter, in a reference to Italy’s disgrace former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, suggested that, “Our own Berlusconi is coming back to us!” |