France's Socialist Party and the wider political Left splintered on Wednesday as centrist Emmanuel Macron's presidential victory triggered power-struggles between moderates and hardliners ahead of June parliamentary elections.
Benoit Hamon, the unsuccessful Socialist Party candidate in the presidential contest, said he would set up a new political movement after several of his hallmark proposals during that campaign were abandoned by his own party.
The statement from Macron's former boss - Macron was economy minister when Valls was premier - shows how the political map is being re-drawn in France in the wake of the 39-year-old's crushing victory over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen on Sunday.
"I will be a candidate for the presidential majority and I wish to join his (Macron's) movement", Mr Valls, who was prime minister in Mr Hollande's administration between 2014 and 2016, told RTL radio.
However, it is not clear if he will be able to do so. He's hoping to run in the Essonne department, his fiefdom south of Paris, but Republic on the Move officials said his nomination won't be automatic.
Francois Baroin, head of the Republicans' parliamentary election team, said on Tuesday they would abandon key proposals that their unsuccessful presidential candidate, Francois Fillon, stood for. "But support doesn't necessarily translate in nomination".
Macron's 577 candidates are expected to be announced Thursday and Macron himself will be sworn in on Sunday. "His voice is not insignificant, but his candidacy will be treated as anyone else's".
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The news sends a signal to politicians to the left and right of Macron's year-old Republic on the Move party that they can not sit on the fence as they seek to position themselves for the June elections that will complete the political landscape for the next five years.
Hamon came in a distant fifth in the first round of France's presidential election, capturing just over 6 percent of the vote, the Socialist Party's worst result since 1969.
Socialist leader Jean-Christophe Cambadelis attempted to prevent a wave of defections to Macron's camp, warning Valls he could not remain a party member and run for parliament on Macron's ticket. "I'm not living with regrets".
The legislative elections on June 11 and 18 will now decide whether Macron's "Republic on the Move" party - barely a year old and still without seats in parliament - will win enough seats to let him govern effectively for the next five years. I want Emmanuel Macron, his government and his majority to succeed, for France. "I will be a candidate in the presidential majority and I wish to join up to his movement, the Republic on the Move".
The Socialists, whose term in government comes to an end in tandem with the departure of President Francois Hollande, have traditionally disputed power with the centre-right in France over the past half century.
Republicans grandee Alain Juppe said the party should not adopt a policy of "systematic obstruction" of Macron if it failed to win a majority.
If Mr Macron's party performs poorly, he could also be forced to form a coalition, a common occurrence in many European countries but something very unusual in France.
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