French ex-PM wants to join Macron's party

French Socialist former Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said he wants to sign up with President-elect Emmanuel Macron's party to fight next month's parliamentary elections.

Macron's party changed its name from En Marche (On the move) to La Republique en Marche in preparation for the June elections.

Valls said the Socialists were dead and "I will be a candidate for the presidential majority".

Party officials reacted warily, saying he had 24 hours to sign up.

Macron won the presidency on Sunday and his new party has begun picking candidates for the June vote.

Valls resigned as Prime Minister when he stood unsuccessfully in the race to be the Socialist presidential candidate and later backed Macron to be President.

However, his approach on Tuesday was not immediately welcomed with open arms.

Macron spokesman Benjamin Griveaux, told French radio that Valls had not yet been registered as a candidate by the party.

"He should have applied like everyone else because the rules are the same for everyone. If you don't put your name forward you can't be selected by En Marche. He's got 24 hours," Griveaux said.

Macron won 66.1 per cent of all votes on Sunday, while far-right opponent Marine Le Pen attracted 33.9 per cent of the votes.

A quarter of the population abstained in the election and more than 11 per cent either cast blank votes or spoilt their ballot.

Valls's remarks that the Socialists were dead prompted an angry response from party colleagues.

"I hope for France's sake that Brutus and Judas don't seek En Marche's party nomination," said Socialist MP Alexis Bachelay.

Macron will on Tuesday mark the EU's Europe Day, the annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe.

In his victory speeches on Sunday he focused on the need for a strong Europe.

--IANS

soni/bg