Sean Rossman

USA TODAY

A group unhappy with the options for president of France is recruiting a familiar face — Barack Obama.

The Obama17 petition aims to gather 1 million signatures to convince the former U.S. commander-in-chief to run in the country's presidential election this spring. The movement's website said it wants to coax France out of its "lethargy."

"We wish to strike a blow by electing a foreign president at the head of our beautiful country," the website reads. "Barack Obama has completed his second term as president of the United States ... why not hire him as president for France?"

The group says Obama has "the best resume in the world for the job," and adds, "it is still possible to vote for a president and not against a candidate."

The movement hopes to have all the signatures by March 15. In the meantime, a campaign organizer told CNN the group plastered 500 photos of Obama around Paris.

Obama faces one massive hurdle in the race, if he were even interested: He's not a French citizen and therefore couldn't qualify to run.

An unnamed co-creator of the movement told NPR the campaign is definitely a joke, but hopes it could make people think about what could be done differently in French politics.

Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @Sean Rossman