Paris, Rabi'I 02, 1438, December 01, 2016, SPA -- French President Francois Hollande says that he will not seek re-election during the presidential campaign next year, according to dpa. In a television address, the French president said he reached his decision taking into account the need to unify the country. He decried the splintering of the left in the face of challenges from conservative and far-right parties in the spring election. Right-leaning party Les Republicains have chosen Francois Fillon, a social conservative touting a platform of economic liberalization, to represent them at the polls. The far-right National Front party and its leader Marine Le Pen has polled strongly. Hollande has registered dismal popularity ratings and his Socialist party is in disarray after a number of unpopular policy proposals. --SPA 22:39 LOCAL TIME 19:39 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w281412