The former French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has confirmed that he will seek the centre-Right presidential nomination despite strong opposition from Alain Juppé, a former conservative prime minister.

Mr Sarkozy has seized on uncertainty resulting from the UK’s Brexit vote to portray himself as the best candidate to deal with an EU crisis.

Mr Sarkozy, 61, a polarising figure who served one term as president before losing to the Socialist François Hollande in 2012, has been damaged by a string of corruption allegations.