France’s presidential election campaign started in earnest on Sunday as Nicolas Sarkozy celebrated winning the nomination of the ruling centre-right UMP party with a promise to broaden his appeal to voters across the political spectrum.

Mr Sarkozy won 98 per cent of votes in his party’s primary, for which he was the only contender, setting up a clash with Ségolène Royal, the Socialist party’s presidential candidate, in the run-up to elections in April.