French Prime Minister Manuel Valls formally announced Monday evening that he
is running for the presidency in next year's election. Read FRANCE 24's
live blog for all the reactions and analysis.
- Valls said he would "give everything for France" in a speech to supporters at the town hall in Evry, just south of Paris, where his political career began.
- The 54-year-old said he would stand down as prime minister on Tuesday to focus on the campaign.
- His widely expected announcement comes just a few days after unpopular President François Hollande said he would not seek a second term.
- It follows a conservative primary ballot in which François Fillon, a 62-year-old former prime minister, secured a resounding win to become the presidential candidate of the centre-right Les Républicains party.
- France’s presidential election takes place in two rounds next April and May.
