France has a new prime minister. Until now interior minister, the appointment of Manuel Valls is President Hollande’s main response to his ruling Socialist party’s disastrous showing in the country’s local elections. <br /><br />Valls replaces Jean-Marc Ayrault who pays the price for a struggling economy, high unemployment and the government’s deep unpopularity.<br /><br />“You have expressed your discontent and your disappointment. I have come here to tell you that I have heard your message because it is clear,” Hollande told TV viewers in a live broadcast. <br /><br />“I have therefore entrusted Manuel Valls with the mission of leading the French government. He has the qualities to do it. It will be a strengthened, coherent and closely-knit team – how can I say – a government of combat,” he went on.<br /><br />In what he described as a “new phase”, Hollande said that one of the government’s priorities would be to kickstart the economy and create jobs.<br /><br />Many French people are well acquainted with Valls from his dynamic but controversial period in charge of the interior ministry.<br /><br />“As interior minister, he had certain tasks to accomplish, as prime minister the task will be much more difficult and is that a good choice? Well the future will tell us. In any case, I wish him lots of courage,” said one man in Paris.<br /><br />A young woman had doubts: “He (Valls) does not so much manage as go on the offensive. And it’s not really what we expect, it’s not really what the French expect. In other words you manage a crisis with a certain calmness, a certain diplomacy and Valls – each time there has been a crisis – he has gone on the offensive.” <br /><br />The elections saw the Socialists lose control of 155 towns and cities to the conservative UMP party. Another 11 were won by the populist Front National.<br /><br />Some see Valls’ nomination as a sign that Hollande is looking to give his government and its overall direction a major shake-up.
