Nicolas Sarkozy hints he will stand for re-election

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French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has not confirmed he will stand for re-election, Sunday gave his strongest hint yet he will be a candidate in a poll he is tipped to lose to a Socialist rival.

"I have a rendezvous with the French. I will not shy away from it," he told journalists who pressed him on whether he would run in what is expected to be a two-round election in April and May.

"I am determined," he added in an hour-long interview he used to unveil reforms aimed at lifting France out of the economic doldrums and boosting his credibility ahead of the vote in which Francois Hollande is the frontrunner.

Members of Sarkozy's entourage have said the right-winger will stand for re-election, but Sarkozy himself has so far never done so. He is widely expected to make his announcement in late February or early March.

The President went on prime time TV to unveil plans for new taxes he hopes will fix France's ailing economy and boost his credibility ahead of polls he is tipped to lose to a Socialist.

In an hour-long broadcast carried by six channels, Sarkozy unveiled plans for a hike in sales tax to 21.2 percent and a 0.1 percent 'Robin Hood' financial transaction tax.

He also promised a raft of measures on reducing work time to cut salaries to save jobs, increasing the number of young people taken on as apprentices and creating a new bank to invest in French industry.