Former French prime minister Manuel Valls failed to advance to the second round in the elections for the National Assembly seat representing the 5th constituency, which covers voters living in Spain, Portugal, Andorra, and Monaco.
Valls ran under the banner of The Republic Takes Action, a party associated with the presidency, but current incumbent Stéphane Vojetta won the nomination as an independent, according to France Info. Vojetta secured 25.39 percent of the vote, while Renaud Le Berre of the New Popular Ecologist and Social Union (NUPES) finished ahead of Valls, who captured just over 15 percent.
Speaking on Twitter after the results, Valls acknowledged the outcome and said his score would be examined, noting that opposition fragmentation had contributed to a disappointing result. He stated that the election in the second round would be a moment of truth for voters and reiterated the need for clarity in the campaign, as reported by France Info.
The latest tally shows Valls will not compete in the runoff. The assembly race will feature the ecologist Le Berre facing the incumbent Vojetta. The political landscape in France has seen renewed focus on the representation of expatriates, with the foreign electorate participating in legislative processes. The electoral calendar places deputies abroad in a distinct framework, a topic discussed as France prepares for parliamentary contests that involve resident citizens overseas.
Valls tour
Manuel Valls served as prime minister under President François Hollande. After losing his bid to reach the Elysee Palace, he expressed interest in joining La République En Marche, but did not meet the party’s criteria. In 2018, he shifted focus to Spain, running for the mayoralty of Barcelona. The campaign came up short, yielding about 13 percent of the vote. He stepped down from the Barcelona City Council in 2021 and has since reengaged with French politics in varying capacities, supporting different factions in regional and national races and occasionally backing leaders such as Emmanuel Macron in major elections.