Paris - Arab Today
Benoit Hamon won the French Socialist Party's presidential nomination, making him the Social Party representative at the presidential elections in April.
The former education minister comfortably beat Manuel Valls, a former prime minister, who conceded before the final tally was completed, according to the BBC.
Hamon won just over 58 percent to Valls who received 41 percent of the votes; anyone was allowed to vote in the primary and the turnout was surprising with a high number of 1.6 million voters.
After his win was announced, Mr Hamon said: "Despite the differences, the forces of the left have never been so close in terms of ideas. Let's come together." He called on the Socialist Party, independent left-winger Jean-Luc Melenchon, and a Green candidate to unite and "construct a government majority".
The social party is not expected to do well in the upcoming presidential elections after the socialist outgoing president, Francois Hollande has a very low approval rating.
With the current polls, conservative Francois Fillon, right-wing Marine Le Pen, and centrist Emmanuel Macron lead are in the lead.
The French elections are scheduled to take place 23rd April; if no candidate wins the majority, a run-off election between the top two candidates will be held on 7 May 2017.
Source: QNA