Former French socialist President François Hollande published his newest book on Thursday entitled "Unite. New World, New Left", in which he outlined a series of 80 proposals for France’s political future — a move widely seen as an effort to appeal to centrist voters.
Although his book may read like a manifesto, Hollande is keeping his cards close to his chest: stating that he will wait until December before announcing his decision about whether he will run for the country’s highest office or not.
For now, Hollande will not participate in the left-wing primary set to take place in October, instead declaring that he will assess whether a serious candidate emerges — and only then decide whether he wants to run.
The former president decided not to seek a second term in 2017, in light of very low approval ratings at the end of his five-year term. Almost a decade on, his new book states that France needs to change its methods, outlook and "level of ambition".
Hollande told French public radio France Inter on Wednesday that the current "challenge is to bring the French together", in light of the polarisation across society between "extremists who thrive on division" and a tense international situation in which France must assert its independence from the United States and Russia.
