Jean Sarkozy is hoping to follow in his father's footsteps

Jean Sarkozy is running in a "canton", the smallest administrative division in France, in polls in south Neuilly.

The young Mr Sarkozy, 21, said he would stand for the ruling UMP party.

Last week, he publicly opposed presidential spokesman David Martinon, who was running for the post of mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris.

President Sarkozy served as mayor there in 1983-2002.

Jean Sarkozy, who had initially supported Mr Martinon, seemed to withdraw his support after a poll showed Mr Martinon would lose in the mayoral contest.

'Things to prove'

Like his father before him, Jean Sarkozy studies law and is said to be interested in politics.

Jean, and his older brother Pierre, are Mr Sarkozy's sons from his first marriage to Marie-Dominique Culioli.

It's not an appointment, it's a candidacy Jean Sarkozy

And like his father, he is attempting to launch his political career in the same chic Paris suburb where President Sarkozy's political career began at the age of 22 as a local councillor.

If elected, Jean Sarkozy will sit on the council for the Hauts-de-Seine department, which groups the south-western Paris suburbs.

He told French daily Le Figaro he had "things to prove".

He said he discussed his candidacy with his father before making a public announcement, although he said his father did not give him any advice.

"He told me to be myself and accept my responsibilities. I'm very aware of the stakes.

"It's not an appointment, it's a candidacy," he added. "A risk to take, and a risk I accept."

President Sarkozy's poll ratings have plummeted to their lowest point since his election triumph, fuelling fears inside his UMP party of failure in the forthcoming municipal elections.