Sarkozy announces candidacy - UPI.com The two leaders discussed plans for tougher euro zone governance ahead of a European Union summit next week. France and Britain had planned on holding a bilateral defense summit but those plans were postponed to 2012 to allow the two leaders to focus on the more immediate euro zone debt crisis. PARIS, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced his intentions to run for re-election, making his first campaign stop Thursday. Sarkozy's critics say re-election is his last chance to salvage public opinion, which has seen a steady downward trend since his 2007 election. Daily paper Liberation wrote: "This entrance into the presidential race is probably [Sarkozy's] last chance to win back public opinion. All other attempts in recent weeks have been absolutely unsuccessful. After Sarkozy's announcement Wednesday night on prime time television, far right candidate Marine Le Pen responded with harsh criticism. "Nicolas Sarkozy is trying to make us forget his scandalous track record on unemployment, sinking purchasing power, rising insecurity and the explosion of immigration," she told France 24 News. I thought he was very insincere. France's Independent newspaper wrote Sarkozy would face "the greatest uphill battle of any incumbent French leader of recent times."