Nicolas Sarkozy's supporters were surprised to learn that the French President would be stepping down next year. The <Telegraph reports:
In a misspelled and often ungrammatical post illustrating the havoc that hackers can cause, Mr Sarkozy is meant to have written: "Dear compatriots, given the exceptional circumstances our country is experiencing, I have decided in my spirit and conscience not to run for office again at the end of my mandate in 2012."
The fake announcement was reportedly the work of a hacker, who went on to reference another page, "Farewell To Nicolas Sarkozy," which invited people to meet for end of term drinks at Le Fouquet's restaurant, the same place that Sarkozy celebrated his election.
Sarkozy, or "Sarko l'Américain" as he dubbed himself, is one of the most unpopular French presidents of all time, with approval ratings slightly above 30 percent. A series of recent gaffes have further tarnished his image with the French people.
Sarkozy's Facebook page was reclaimed this morning, with a message stating that, ""My Facebook account was hacked into this evening, perhaps to remind me that no system is infallible," according the AFP. He also stressed that he was, in fact, planning on running for president next year.