- Title: French PM Valls announces presidential bid, quits government
- Date: 5th December 2016
- Summary: EVRY, FRANCE (DECEMBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS FOR AGENCY POOL) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, MANUEL VALLS, ARRIVING TO DELIVER SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, MANUEL VALLS, SAYING: "I am candidate for the presidency of the Republic." AUDIENCE CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, MANUEL VALLS, SAYING: "I have this strength within me, this will to serve my country. It's beyond words, it's a total conviction. I want to give everything, give everything, for France which has given me so much. Minister, Prime Minister, I've done my duty, you know me, sparing no effort, with energy, in perfect loyalty, while constantly striving to live up to the task given to me by the head of state (Francois Hollande)." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER, MANUEL VALLS, SAYING: "At the heart of difficulties, alongside them, I have never given in to the temptation of individualism, to leave the group. No, serving France is much greater than yourself. The time, yes, time, has come to go further in my commitment. Statesmanship leads me to decide that I can no longer be Prime Minister while at the same time being candidate. In total agreement with the President of the Republic, I will resign from my role from tomorrow because I want to offer the French people a path in complete freedom."
- Embargoed: 20th December 2016 17:58
- Keywords: Valls socialists election primary Hollande France 2017 presidential
- Location: EVRY, FRANCE
- City: EVRY, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA0015BLZWHZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS WHITE FLASHES
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN UPDATED EDIT IN 1279-FRANCE-ELECTION/VALLS-BID
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Monday (December 5) entered the race to be the Socialist candidate for next year's presidential election and said he was quitting the government to focus on campaigning.
Opinion polls bill the 54-year old Valls as favourite to win his party's nomination in late January primaries.
But the centrist with a business-friendly stance on economic policies combined with a reputation as a hardliner on law and order will face stiff competition from party rivals.
"I am candidate for the presidency of the Republic," Valls said to applause from supporters in his fiefdom of Evry, the gritty southern suburb of Paris where he was mayor for more than a decade.
The premier had made no secret of his desire to seek the Socialist ticket and President Francois Hollande's decision not to run for a second mandate opened the way for him.
"I have this strength within me, this will to serve my country. It's beyond words, it's a total conviction. I want to give everything, give everything, for France which has given me so much. Minister, Prime Minister, I've done my duty, you know me, sparing no effort, with energy, in perfect loyalty, while constantly striving to live up to the task given to me by the head of state (Francois Hollande)," he said.
Valls announced his resignation as prime minister, saying it would be effective on Tuesday. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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