PARIS (Sputnik) – Hollande was asked in an interview with France Inter radio whether a repeat of the 2002 scenario – where a Socialist Party placed third after National Front and candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen and Rally for the Republic’s Jacques Chirac – was on the books. Chirac went on to defeat Le Pen in the second round.
"Of course the conditions have developed," Hollande said.
The French leader declined to say whether he planned to run for a second term or whether he was ready to take part in possible Socialist Party primaries.
On February 12, Hollande said "time has not come yet" to decide on whether or not to hold Socialist Party primaries.
"I am the President of the Republic until May 2017. I can be a candidate, I cannot be a candidate, but until then I prefer to completely surrender to my mission," Hollande stressed.
He said that he would not seek a second presidential term if he failed to reverse the unemployment curve.
