Brexit Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy, head of France's Les Republicains political party and former French president, will run again in the race to be France's leader Stephane Mahe/ Reuters

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy revealed that he will run to be leader of the country again in the 2017 elections.

Sarkozy served as president between 2007 and 2012, and made the announcement on his social media pages ahead of the publication of his book, Everything for France.

"I have decided to be a candidate for the 2017 presidential election.

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"I felt I had the strength to lead this battle at a troubled time in our history," he wrote.

Sarkozy, leader of the centre right Les Republicains, has previously hinted that retains ambitions to be president.

More than a dozen candidates are vying for the party's presidential nomination. In recent polls Sarkozy trailed his main rival, Alain Juppe.

He was defeated in elections four years ago by Socialist leader Francois Hollande, whose government is increasingly unpopular following a series of terror attacks by Islamic extremists, and controversial reform policies.

In November, both France's main parties will hold presidential elections, in which party members will vote for a candidate in a two round ballot.

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