French president tweets as election race looms

PARIS — President Nicolas Sarkozy has opened a personal Twitter account as France buzzes with speculation that he plans at last to announce his long-expected candidacy for re-election.

The conservative leader who is trailing Socialist Francois Hollande in the polls also tweeted that he would appear on France's biggest prime-time news program later Wednesday.

Sarkozy's office confirmed the account, which gained more than 14,800 followers in the two hours after the first tweet on "NicolasSarkozy". Hollande already has an account, "fhollande", with more than 146,000 followers.

France's two-round presidential ballot in April and May is likely to have an impact throughout the European Union. Sarkozy has been closely involved in the fight to save the euro amid a sovereign debt crisis in the bloc.