Sarkozy to fight for French presidency in 2017

Nicolas Sarkozy has told a friend he has "no choice" but to seek re-election to the French presidency in 2017, weekly paper Le Canard Enchaine reported on Wednesday, after saying he would quit politics following his election defeat in May.

Sarkozy has kept a low profile since losing to Socialist Francois Hollande and has made only one public statement, criticizing his successor's policy on Syria.

"Given the disastrous shape France is likely to be in five years from now, I'll have no choice in 2017," Le Canard Enchaine quoted Sarkozy as telling one-time aide and former agriculture minister Bruno Le Maire.

"The question is not whether I come back but if I have the choice, morally speaking, of not coming back."