French president Francois Hollande will not stand for re-election

François Hollande will not stand for re-election as France’s president next year, the first since the Second World War not to contest a second term.

In a surprise address to the nation from the Elysée Palace on Thursday night, Hollande said that he was “conscious of the risks that my candidacy would create”.

Hollande's approval rating has slumped to 4%, becoming the most unpopular French president in history, as he battled a stagnant economy with rising unemployment and several terrorist attacks during his four and half years as president.

The Socialist president said that his concern was about the interest of the country and he could not stand up for the breakup of the Left.

His decision to not run a has left a vacancy in the Left to go up against François Fillion from the centre-right Les Républicains and Marie Le Pen from the far-right Front National.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls is rumoured to run for the Socialists, as well as former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg.

Emmanuel Macron, Hollande’s former protege and former finance minister, announced he was to run on as an independent in November claiming the centre ground.

However, recent polls have indicated that no candidate from the left or Macron would make it to final round, with the eventual run-off being between Fillon and Le Pen.