(FILES) This file photo taken on February 13, 2016 shows Former French president and Les Republicains (LR) right-wing main opposition party's leader Nicolas Sarkozy giving a speech during the LR National Council in Paris. Former French leader Nicolas Sarkozy on August 22, 2016 announced he will seek his party's nomination to stand in next year's presidential election. "I have decided to be a candidate in the 2017 presidential election," Sarkozy, who was president between 2007 and 2012, wrote in a foreword to a new book to be released on August 24, 2016 and seen by AFP. Sarkozy also posted a link to the extract on his Twitter account. / AFP PHOTO / LIONEL BONAVENTURE