Sarkozy draws presidential election spotlight with book

Nicolas Sarkozy, former French president and current head of the Les Republicains political party, gestures as he delivers a speech on the future of Europe during an event held by Flanders' Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the Stadsschouwburg in Antwerp, Belgium, January 6, 2016. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

PARIS (Reuters) - Nicolas Sarkozy said his "frankness" and "free spirit" had led him to make errors during his 2007-2012 term as French president, in a book unveiled on Friday that is key to his bid for re-election in 2017.

It was a mistake telling a hostile bystander at a farm fair "Get lost, you jerk", and it was another error to have celebrated his 2007 election win on a French tycoon's yacht, he said in the book headlined "France for life".