New party rivals Sarkozy

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin launched a new political movement yesterday, called Republic Solidarity, as an alternative to the policies of his longtime rival, President Nicolas Sarkozy.

In his speech to a crowd of several thousand people shouting "Villepin, President!" the one-time diplomat never mentioned the 2012 presidential race, but appeared to be laying the foundations for the contest.

Villepin said: "I'm committing myself because I think the French need another path. France is more divided than ever."

Villepin and Sarkozy belong to the conservative UMP party, which controls Parliament. But they have a bitter relationship that the President blames for the so-called Clearstream affair, a high-profile case in which Villepin was tried and acquitted of slander.