Published on 07:33 PM, December 06, 2016

Cazeneuve named as new French PM

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve attends a news conference for the launching of the new campaign against radicalisation and jihadism at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, France, November 18, 2016. Photo: Reuters
Reuters, Paris

Bernard Cazeneuve, currently French interior minister, will replace Manuel Valls as the country's new prime minister, President Francois Hollande's office said today.

"He's a strong personality, with experience of state affairs," said a source in the president's entourage, commenting on Cazeneuve's appointment.

Bernard Cazeneuve is a Socialist politician and current Prime Minister of France. Cazeneuve rose to prominence in his election as a deputy of the National Assembly representing the 5th constituency of Manche in 1997, and as mayor of Cherbourg-Octeville in 2001.

In 2012 he was appointed Minister of State for European Affairs in the first Ayrault Government.

Following the resignation of Jérôme Cahuzac 2013, Cazeneuve was named Minister of State for the Budget in the second Ayrault Government.

In the First Valls Government Cazeneuve served as the 42nd Minister of the Interior from April 2, 2014 to August 27 2014. On 6 December 2016, Cazeneuve was appointed Prime Minister after Manuel Valls resigned to concentrate on the upcoming presidential election.

Valls is stepping down in order to seek the Socialist Party's nomination to be its presidential candidate in the 2017 election.

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