France's Hollande to announce decision on possible presidential bid on Dec. 10

French President Francois Hollande will make known on Dec. 10 whether he will seek a second five-year term in next year's presidential election, Didier Guillaume, head of the Socialist group in the senate, said Tuesday.

"The president said he would give his response (on a possible presidential bid) on Dec. 10," Guillaume, who is a close ally of Hollande, told Public Senat television late on Tuesday.

During a recent prime-time interview, Hollande had said he would announce his decision by the end of 2016.

Traditionally, the incumbent head of state represents his party in an election, without a contest. But prospects of a primary have been raised due to Hollande's record-low approval ratings.

French pollsters predicted the Socialist leader would lose in the first round of the upcoming elections if he sought re-election.

Opinions polls also showed Hollande, who has been seeking to improve the country's employment rate, would lose to his former economy minister Emmanuel Macron, who has declared his candidacy.

France's left-wing parties are scheduled to hold primaries on Jan. 22 and 29. Endi