PARIS, Dec. 5 (UPI) — France’s socialist prime minister announced Monday that he will seek to replace Francois Hollande as president next year — hoping to counter a recent right-wing trend in European leadership.
Manuel Valls said he is prepared to step down as prime minister to seek the presidency, which is up for grabs now that Hollande has decided not to seek reelection.
“I want an independent France, inflexible in its values to face the China of Xi Jinping, the Russia of Vladimir Putin, the America of Donald Trump, the Turkey of [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan,” Valls said.
With recent moves toward the right — Britain’s departure from the European Union and Trump’s election — it remains to be seen if France will follow suit in revolting against the established political order.
“The left is big and beautiful when it speaks to all the French, when it gathers together, when its destiny is entwined with that of France,” he said. “France needs the left!”
To win election, Valls must first win the Socialist Party primary next month.
France will vote for its next president on April 23. If no candidate secures an outright majority, a runoff vote will occur May 7.
Hollande announced last week that he will not seek another term as president, marking the first time in decades that a French president won’t seek a second term. He will leave office next year as one of the least popular leaders in the nation’s history.
Also last week, Francois Fillon won the Republican Party primary for the race.
Valls became Hollande’s interior minister in 2012 and prime minister two years later. He will resign from his current post in order to enter the race.
Some experts view Valls’ move as a risky one, as many predict he doesn’t have the support necessary to make the run successful — largely due to deep divisions on the left and several candidates vying for the unexpected presidential vacancy.
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