Excerpt:
France's President Nicolas Sarkozy set the stage on Thursday for a re election campaign marked by a conservative social agenda, vowing to oppose gay marriage and euthanasia and restrict immigration.
Talking to the pro-government Le Figaro, Sarkozy rejected his left-wing opponent's plans to allow foreigners to vote in local polls, while promising a referendum on restricting the right to unemployment benefits.
Sarkozy stopped short of formally declaring his candidacy for re-election, amid widespread reports that he is due to do so on Wednesday next week, but left no doubt that his mind was made up: "The date is approaching."