Sarkozy wins backing from centrist candidate on day one of campaign

Feb 16, 2012, 10:28 GMT

Paris - A day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy launched his campaign for reelection, his former defence minister, Herve Morin, who had been running against him, rallied to his side.

In an interview in Friday's edition of Figaro Magazine, excerpts of which were posted online on Thursday, Morin, leader of the small New Centre party, said he was withdrawing his candidacy and supporting Sarkozy.

The former minister, whom polls had showed winning under 0.5 per cent of votes, said the French had shown little appetite to support a new candidate at a time of crisis.

Morin said he hoped Sarkozy would learn from 'the mistakes of his first term.'

Sarkozy confirmed in a television interview Wednesday evening that he would seek another five-year term in the election to be held over April and May.

At his first campaign rally in the town of Annecy Thursday he was expected to present himself as the candidate of 'a strong France.'

Sarkozy has also pledged, if reelected, to give the French more of a direct say in the running of the country, by holding referendums on controversial issues, such as unemployment benefits.

He faces an uphill battle to win reelection.

Opinion polls show him stuck at the lowest point ever for an incumbent at this point in the presidential race - with between 24.5 and 26 per cent of voter intentions, compared with between 29.5 and 31 per cent for Socialist candidate Francois Hollande.