French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin will challenge incumbent Mr Jacques Chirac for the country’s presidency in elections in April and May.
Mr Jospin, leader of the Socialist Party, had long been expected to mount his challenge but had been thought likely to wait to formalise it until after the end of the present parliament on Friday.
Mr Chirac, a conservative, declared his intention to run for a second term last week.
Latest opinion polls show the two rivals, who have shared power for five years in an uneasy cohabitation, running almost neck-and-neck in voter favour. The election will be held over two rounds on April 21st and May 5th.
Mr Jospin lost to Mr Chirac in the last presidential election in 1995 and led the Socialist Party to victory in parliamentary elections in 1997. Parliamentary elections are due this year in June.