French Socialists Eye Royal, Valls as Alternatives to Hollande
- Hollande losing support from his party after book revelations
- Valls defends record in office, Royal says situation desperate
Manuel Valls.
Photographer: Guillaume Souvant/AFP via Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
France’s Socialist Party is evaluating Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Environment Minister Segolene Royal as possible alternatives to President Francois Hollande in a bid to avoid a defeat in next year’s elections.
France’s main Sunday newspaper ran the headline “The Royal Option” across its front page a day after Valls at a rally in Tours, western France, called on supporters of the left to “act quickly” to ensure they have a candidate who can advance to the second round of the election next May.