Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has revealed he will run again to be leader of his country in next year's elections.

The 61-year-old, who served as President between 2007 and 2012, made the announcement on social media ahead of publishing his book.

He was unseated from the Elysee Palace when he was defeated in the last French presidential election by Francois Hollande.

The Socialist leader has since proved increasingly unpopular as many of the reforms he has tried to institute have failed.

Mr Sarkozy wrote: "I have decided to be a candidate for the 2017 presidential election.


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

He made the announcement that he was standing alongside the first chapter of a book - Everything for France - which he will publish later this week.

Mr Sarkozy has been a member of France's right of centre The Republicans party since 2015 and is currently its President, having previously represented its predecessor Union for a Popular Movement.

It was not clear from his posting whether he will try to take part in the primaries to win the ticket to be The Republicans' candidate, or whether he will stand independently.

Up to a dozen other The Republicans politicians are thought to be vying to become their party's candidate, including Mr Sarkozy's main rival and former foreign minister Alain Juppe.

The ex-head of state, who became as well known internationally for his fashion sense and marriage to model Carla Bruni as his political decisions, was formally investigated by French authorities in 2014 on suspicion of so-called "influence peddling" and was questioned at a Paris police station.

In 2013 he was also formally investigated over "abuse of frailty", in connection with an illegal party-financing case linked to France's richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt.

Earlier this year he was placed under formal investigation over allegations his campaign overspent during his 2012 bid for re-election.

He will have to counter the rise of France's far right which has seen a surge in support in recent years, in the wake of a series of Islamist attacks including massacres in Paris and Nice.

Some French commentators have pointed out that some of his recent campaigning has appeared to play on security fears.

Mr Sarkozy wrote: "The five years that come will be full of danger, but also of hope."