As the self-styled matador of French politics, it was only fitting that Nicolas Sarkozy picked the country's bullfighting capital of Nîmes - once a Roman gladiator hub - to end his campaign to lead the country's centre-Right wing in next year's presidential elections.

On Nov 20 and 27, Les Républicains, his party, hold their first primary election open to any supporter who pays €2 and signs a charter of centre-Right values. The French Socialist Party follows with its two-round primary on Jan 22 and 29.

With the Left in tatters after five years under president François Hollande, the race for the centre-Right nomination has sparked huge interest.