The former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his return politics.

He stepped down from his role on May 6th in 2012, on the evening of the presidential election, following his defeat by Francois Hollande.

In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Sarkozy said "I took the time to think...It is at the end of a reflection that I decided to offer a new political choice to the French people."

"I am a candidate to be president of my political family. I will propose to transform it completely, so as to create the conditions for a new and large gathering who will address all the French people, without any partisanship, within a period of three months."

"There is nothing great without the unity of the nation," he added.

Mr Sarkozy (59) was placed under formal investigation earlier this year over a suspected attempt to illegally influence judicial proceedings in one of a string of corruption cases he was implicated in.

He denied any wrongdoing and claimed the allegations were politically motivated.

"The situation is sufficiently serious to tell the French people where we stand on the political exploitation of part of the legal system today" he said at the time.

"I say to all those who are listening or watching that I have never betrayed them and have never committed an act against the Republic's principles and the rule of law".