French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s re-election prospects may have improved after popular former environment minister Jean-Louis Borloo said he would not run for president next April.
Borloo’s decision, announced on Sunday night, reduces the risk that the conservative vote will be splintered at Sarkozy’s expense in round one of the ballot. Sarkozy, whose popularity hit record lows in September, will need a strong showing to keep out Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front party, and make the second round runoff between the top two candidates. Sarkozy is widely expected to run for a second term, but has made no announcement yet. Borloo has not made clear who he will support in the election. Farm Minister Bruno Le Maire, who is heading the election campaign for Sarkozy’s UMP party, said he would contact Borloo in the coming week or two to see how he could work with the Sarkozy camp.
