Valls Supports Macron's Movement

Manuel Valls, a former French Socialist prime minister, said on Tuesday that he wished to support president-elect Emmanuel Macron's political movement in the June elections in the lower house of parliament.

"I will be a candidate in the presidential majority and I wish to join up to his movement, namely the 'Republic on the Move'," Valls told RTL radio. Macron is working to obtain a majority in the lower house of parliament in June elections.

His party chief, Richard Ferrand, said on Monday Macron's 'En Marche!' (Forward!) movement would change its name to "En Marche la Republique" or "Republic on the Move", so as to structure itself more like a traditional party. Ferrand also said the names of Macron's 577 candidates in the legislative elections would be announced this Thursday.

“The Socialist Party is dead; it’s in the past,” Valls said on Tuesday. “It needs to move forward.” Macron wants to stop British businesses from being able to bid for public contracts within the European Union post-Brexit, according to reports. The newly elected French president set out plans in his manifesto to introduce a “Buy European Act” which would effectively restrict the ability of companies operating mainly outside of the bloc to access public procurement deals.