Former French president Nikolas Sarkozy has announced his withdrawal from politics after conceding defeat in the first round of country’s right-wing presidential primary.
The former French President came third in the poll with 21.4 percent with three-quarters of the vote counted.
Former prime minister Francois Fillon took the lead in the primary with 43 percent votes while Alian Juppe had over 26 percent votes.
Sarkozy also backed Francois Fillon for the next round. While addressing the media, he said “I have no bitterness, I have no sadness, and I wish the best for my country.”
Fillon served as a prime minister under Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012, While Juppe was the prime minister from 1995 to 1997 under Jacques Chirac.
The French Republican Party started its nominating contest for the presidential candidate on Sunday morning.
As the socialist party remaining divided till now, the next French president will possibly either the Republican nominee or extreme right-wing leader Marine Le Pen.
Le pen is campaigning on a pro-nationalist, anti-immigration ticket similar to Donald Trump’s hateful campaign.
