French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy is the only candidate for his ruling Union for a Popular Movement party (UMP) in next year's presidential election, the party has announced.

Sarkozy has become the only one seeking the support of UMP for the presidential election, with the high prospect of winning the presidential candidacy by an overwhelming majority, AFP reported on Sunday.

The deadline for registering as a potential candidate for UMP is the 12 p.m. on Dec. 31, 2006, with only Sarkozy announcing to attend the race.

Before that, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie announced that she would not be seeking the 'logistical and financial' support of UMP for the candidacy nomination.

Around 327,000 members of the party will vote on the Internet. The results will be announced during a UMP congress which is to take place in Paris on Jan.14, when between 30,000 and 50, 000 people are expected to attend.

Source: Xinhua