Christiane Taubira, a leading figure on the left of French politics and a justice minister in the Socialist government of former president François Hollande, said Friday she was considering running for president next year, and would give an update on her plans in January.
In a video posted on her Twitter account Friday, Taubira said: “What matters is the fragility of daily life for millions of you, the uncertainties of the future, the fragmentations that are at work in French society.”
The announcement comes as all opinion polls suggest the left getting eliminated in the first round of the presidential election.
"There are candidates of great value, for whom I have esteem and friendship. But I see the deadlock," Taubira, who served as as justice minister from 2012 to 2016, said in her message. "I have always said that I would take my responsibilities. For this, I plan to be a candidate in the presidential election of the French Republic."
In the video, Taubira, however, did not mention a potential participation in the Populaire Primaire, an initiative launched by left-wing activists for finding a common left-wing candidate for the presidential elections.
Anne Hidalgo, supported by the Socialist Party (PS), recently gave a call for the organisation of the primary, which was rejected by her main rivals on the left, Yannick Jadot, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and the communist Fabien Roussel.
>> Read more: French left in disarray as right, far right dominate presidential campaign
(FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
