France Sarkozy: Ex-president exits after defeat Published duration 21 November 2016

image copyright AFP image caption Nicolas Sarkozy has now lost his second bid for re-election as president

French ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy has been knocked out of the contest for a centre-right presidential candidate and signalled his withdrawal from politics.

Admitting defeat, Mr Sarkozy endorsed Francois Fillon, a free-market liberal who won Sunday's first round with 44% of the vote.

Alain Juppe, who like Mr Fillon is an ex-prime minister, finished second.

They will face each other in a run-off next Sunday. The winner will compete in next year's presidential election.

The winner of the Republican primary is likely to make the presidential run-off, where he or she will probably face far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

With the governing socialists unpopular and divided, it seems unlikely that any left-wing candidate will survive the first round in April.

image copyright Reuters image caption Mr Fillon ran on a centrist platform advocating market reforms

More than four million people turned out to vote in Sunday's primary, a far higher number than expected. Polls suggest that the centre-right candidate will win the second round in May.

In his concession speech, Mr Sarkozy, 61, said: "I have no bitterness, I have no sadness, and I wish the best for my country."

Announcing that he would step back from politics, he added he would now "embark on a life with more private passions and fewer public passions".

Mr Sarkozy retreated from public life after he lost the presidency in 2012 but staged a comeback in 2014 to lead a revamped centre right.

He told reporters he now supported Mr Fillon, 62, whose "political choices" he said were closer to his own than Mr Juppe's.

Mr Fillon served as Mr Sarkozy's prime minister during the latter's presidency between 2007 and 2012.

Challenging Le Pen - by Lucy Williamson, BBC Paris Correspondent

Since his return to politics two years ago, Mr Sarkozy has seen his dominance of the centre-right leach steadily to his rivals. He banked on a hard-right agenda, sailing close to the policies of far-right leader Marine Le Pen on issues like security, immigration and French identity.

Whether it is his policies that have apparently alienated France, his previous record as president, or the scandals that have dogged him since he left, Mr Sarkozy is out of next year's presidential race before it has truly begun.

With approval ratings for France's Socialist president at historic lows, this primary contest is seen by some as an unofficial first round in France's presidential election, as whoever wins the centre-right nomination is expected to battle far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the run-off for the Elysee Palace next year.

Mr Fillon, an anglophile whose wife is Welsh and who admires Margaret Thatcher, said the result showed a strong movement of hope was under way.

He had promised deep market reforms and was initially not seen as the top contender. However he has enjoyed a late surge in polls.

"Defeat must not humiliate anyone because we will need everyone," he said. "I spare a thought particularly for Nicolas Sarkozy, France's former president."

What does Fillon stand for?

image copyright AFP image caption The front-runner in the Republican race wants big cuts to the public sector

An end to the 35-hour working week in the private sector and a return to 39 hours for public sector workers

Lower taxes and cuts of €100bn in public spending over five years. Half a million civil service jobs would go

An independent fund would be set up to stimulate entrepreneurship and create 500,000 to one million jobs

The retirement age would rise to 65

Adoption by same-sex couples would be banned

A referendum would be held on a quota for immigrants

Francois Fillon's rival in the run-off was regarded as the frontrunner for most of the primary race.

A 71-year-old former prime minister with a technocratic image, Alain Juppe had campaigned as a moderate and a unifying figure in the aftermath of jihadist attacks.

"This first round was a surprise," he said after it became clear he had come only second. "Next Sunday, if you want it and if I want it, will bring another surprise."

image copyright AFP image caption Alain Juppe is a veteran politician who was seen as the frontrunner

He is embroiled in a high-profile scandal over the breach of campaign spending limits in the 2012 election.

In September a judge ruled that Mr Sarkozy should stand trial in the case.

Turnout in the primary first round was higher than anticipated, with almost four million people taking part.

Nicolas Sarkozy: Highs and lows

image copyright AFP/Getty Images

1983 - Launches political career as mayor of Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine

- Launches political career as mayor of Paris suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine 1993 - Wins national attention by personally intervening to free infants held hostage in a school

- Wins national attention by personally intervening to free infants held hostage in a school 1993-95 - Moves up the ladder, becoming right-hand man of PM Edouard Balladur as budget minister

- Moves up the ladder, becoming right-hand man of PM Edouard Balladur as budget minister 2002 - Appointed interior minister in Mr Chirac's new cabinet despite past differences

- Appointed interior minister in Mr Chirac's new cabinet despite past differences 2004 - Becomes finance minister in reshuffle but leaves shortly afterwards to head the UMP party

- Becomes finance minister in reshuffle but leaves shortly afterwards to head the UMP party 2005-07 - Second stint as interior minister

- Second stint as interior minister 2007 - Wins presidential elections, beating Socialist candidate Segolene Royal

- Wins presidential elections, beating Socialist candidate Segolene Royal 2012 -Runs for second term but is defeated by Socialist Francois Hollande

-Runs for second term but is defeated by Socialist Francois Hollande 2014 - Returns to politics, becoming chairman of UMP