Former Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls called on Wednesday March 2 to "
unite behind the only possible choice
" by voting for Emmanuel Macron in the first round of the presidential election.
Read alsoPresidential 2022: Jean-Pierre Raffarin gives his official support to Emmanuel Macron and the party of Édouard Philippe
"
Like many Republicans of all stripes, I will vote for Emmanuel Macron from April 10,
" wrote in a column published on his accounts the former head of government of François Hollande (2014-2016), who had already voted for the current president in the first round in 2017.
A support “of responsibility and requirement”
This new support, "
responsible and demanding
", is announced just after that of another Prime Minister, on the right this one, Jean-Pierre Raffarin and while the President of the Republic, who will speak at 8:00 p.m. on the war in Ukraine, has until the end of the week to declare itself.
“
Never before has France had to face such great challenges calling into question, internally, its indivisibility and, externally, its unique place in Europe and in the world.
Faced with the risks on the horizon, let's unite behind the only possible choice
, ”argues Manuel Valls in this forum.
He also puts forward “
political reasons
”, believing that “
this campaign sheds a glaring light on the bankruptcies of the two political families which have long structured our democratic life
”.
"
Locked in a systematic opposition, eager for revenge, left and right, disoriented by the degagism and the implosion of the system in 2017, have not been able to renew themselves
", criticizes the one who had been a majority deputy for more than a year in 2017 before trying his luck at the municipal elections in Barcelona.
He says he has "
respect and esteem for Anne Hidalgo and Valérie Pécresse
", "
both deeply republican
", but "
unfortunately hostages of the mistakes of their camp
".
Read also Presidential 2022: Emmanuel Macron jumps in voting intentions
"
If, as I wish, the President of the Republic is re-elected, he will have to give new meaning to his second term in order to finally reduce the French divisions and reconcile the people with politics
", warns Manuel Valls.
"
It will take a majority with deeper roots, both ideological and local, in order to no longer leave the President alone with the people
", he believes, adding that "
a powerful republican pole will have to emerge in what will have to be a real recomposition in order to stabilize our political system
".