PARIS - French centrist politician Hervé Morin has announced he will run for the presidency, a move which could eat into the support of conservative French president Nicolas Sarkozy in April's election.
Mr Morin, a former defence minister whom polls predict will win only 1 to 2 per cent of the vote, is the head of the New Centre party and has the support of about 20 deputies, senators and European parliamentarians.
"I do not see among any of my declared opponents the ideas which would allow France to meet the challenges of this changing world," Mr Morin said yesterday.
His candidacy follows the announcement last Thursday of the candidacy of François Bayrou, the leader of the centrist MoDem party. - (Reuters)