The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy vowed to disappear from public life after his election defeat last year. In today’s edition of the centre-right magazine Valeurs Actuelles, however, Mr Sarkozy is quoted as saying he might have to make a political comeback “for the sake of France”.

“Sadly, there may come a moment when the question is no longer, do you want to, but, do you have the choice? In this case I cannot say I’m happy taking my daughter to school and doing conferences around the world.

“In that case, obviously, I shall be obliged to do this. Not because of desire, but of duty, and only because it is for France.”

The magazine quotes him as saying he would return only if France was veering towards the “extremism of the right or that of the left”. – (Guardian service)