Bernard Cazeneuve named as new Prime Minister of France after Manuel Valls steps down to run for President
Former interior minister charged with forming new government after taking post as Prime Minister
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bernard Cazeneuve has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France after Manuel Valls quit his post to focus on running for President in the country’s coming elections.
Mr Valls will be seeking the Socialist nomination for the vote, hoping to pit himself against conservative candidate Francois Fillon and Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Front National.
“I have appointed Mr Cazeneuve as Prime Minister and charged him with forming a new government,” said President Francois Hollande, who will not be running for re-election.
Mr Hollande said he has entrusted Mr Cazeneuve with protecting the French people.
“But protecting is not enough, we must prepare the future,” Hollande said in the Paris suburb of Villepinte.
The 53-year-old Mr Cazeneuve is a close ally of Mr Hollande and has become a popular figure in French politics as the champion of measures tackling extremism.
Since being appointed interior minister in 2014 he has led the response to a series of terror attacks which claimed more than 200 lives, championing counterterrorism and intelligence laws and implementing the country’s continuing state of emergency.
Bruno Le Roux, the head of the Socialist group in Parliament’s lower house, was appointed as France’s new interior minister.
Mr Valls, who survived a vote of no confidence earlier this year, has been criticised by members of his own party for supporting controversial labour reforms and burkini bans, and is known for his outspoken, authoritarian style and his tough views on immigration and security.
He will face other contenders in the Socialist primary next month before France’s two-part presidential election in April and May. Former economy minister Arnaud Montebourg and former education minister Benoit Hamon, who back more left-leaning policies, are also serious contenders in the Socialist primary.
An opinion poll published on Tuesday forecast that Mr Fillon would beat Ms Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election with 65 per cent of the vote.
The Ifop-Fiducial poll for iTele, Paris Match and Sud Radio also said that no candidate from the Socialist party would do better than a fifth-placed score. The survey was taken before Mr Valls put his name forward.
His party holds a majority in France’s National Assembly but its popularity has been severely damaged by the refugee crisis and the government’s inability to prevent a succession of terrorist attacks.
Additional reporting by agencies
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments