France’s former conservative president Nicolas Sarkozy has formally announced he is running for the presidency again in next year’s elections.

In an extract of a book released on his Facebook page Monday, Sarkozy wrote: “I have decided to be a candidate to the 2017 presidential election.”

He added: “I’ve felt I had the force to wage this battle at a so tormented time of history.”

Sarkozy, 61, is expected to lead a campaign based on hardline ideas on immigration and security in a country marked by recent terror attacks.

He must first win the primaries organized by the French right in November where he’ll face competition from former prime minister Alain Juppe, favorite in the polls.

Sarkozy lost the presidential election to Francois Hollande in 2012 after his first term.

(AP)