Valls makes French presidential bid, steps down as premier

FILE - In this May 7, 2012 file photo, Manuel Valls gestures outside the Socialist Party headquarters in Paris. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is expected to announce a presidential bid, in hopes of rallying the divided French left amid growing populist pressure ahead of France's April-May presidential election. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, File) FILE - In this May 7, 2012 file photo, Manuel Valls gestures outside the Socialist Party headquarters in Paris. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls is expected to announce a presidential bid, in hopes of rallying the divided French left amid growing populist pressure ahead of France's April-May presidential election. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler, File)

By Associated Press December 5, 2016 1 min read

PARIS (AP) – French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has announced his candidacy for next year’s presidential election.

Valls will face other contenders in the Socialist primary next month.

“I want to give everything for France,” the 54-year-old said in a speech Monday evening in the Paris suburb of Evry.

He said he will quit his job on Tuesday in order to focus on his presidential bid.

Valls’ announcement comes a few days after unpopular president Francois Hollande said he will not run again, in the hope of giving the Socialist party a chance to win in the April-May presidential election with a different candidate.