Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Europe

Ex-minister launches Socialist bid for French presidency

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • 530ff6ed-
    Image 1 of 3

    Leftist contender for the Socialist primary election Arnaud Montebourg smiles after his speech to officially launch his primary campaign for France's presidential election in spring next year, on a river boat in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

  • e139f6ab-
    Image 2 of 3

    Leftist contender for the Socialist primary election Arnaud Montebourg surrounded by reporters leaves the river boat after he officially launched his primary campaign for France's presidential election in spring next year in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

  • 724f4b69-
    Image 3 of 3

    Leftist contender for the Socialist primary election Arnaud Montebourg gestures as he delivers a speech to officially launch his primary campaign for France's presidential election in spring next year, on a river boat in Paris, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. Placard reads, "Free the French". (AP Photo/Michel Euler) (The Associated Press)

PARIS – Former French economy minister Arnaud Montebourg has formally entered the country's presidential race.

Montebourg announced his candidacy Thursday in the presidential primary France's Socialist party has scheduled for January.

The 54-year-old Montebourg's politics are firmly left-leaning. He lost his cabinet position in 2014 because he denounced president Francois Hollande's pro-business shift.

During a speech in Paris, Montebourg says he favors a strong state to protect France's industry from "foreign interests."

Another former economy minister of Hollande's, centrist Emmanuel Macron also is seeing the presidency but without taking part into a primary. Macron advocates free market policies.

Hollande must say whether he will stand for re-election before a Dec. 15 deadline.

The French conservatives have chosen former prime minister Francois Fillon as their nominee for the April-May presidential election..