Lyon (AFP)

Former socialist minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, candidate for the presidency of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, suspended his field campaign on Monday after testing positive for Covid-19, his team said in a statement.

"It immediately applies the rule which is essential to all and to all, in all circumstances: a total isolation of 10 days. Tested regularly, all its close contacts during the last 48 hours are warned," he said. she specified, adding that "the campaign on the ground (was) suspended until April 2".

The former Minister of National Education of François Hollande, who made his declaration "in the application + Tous anti-Covid +", called "the Auvergnats, the Rhônalpins and all the French to show the greatest vigilance, to respect all barrier gestures ".

Ms. Vallaud-Belkacem announced on March 14 her candidacy for the June regional elections in an interview with the three major dailies in the region, Le Progrès, Le Dauphiné Libéré and La Montagne.

She said she wanted to embody "an alternative" to the politics and governance of Laurent Wauquiez (LR), who seized the region in 2016 and that she taxes "patronage" and "short-termism" .

In addition to the PS, its list brings together the PRG, Cap ecology and the Republican and Social Left.

Ms. Vallaud-Belkacem pleaded for a union of the left to hope to debunk Mr. Wauquiez, leading in the polls, but the head of the EELV list Fabienne Grébert replied that she did not see "any reason" to line up behind her.

© 2021 AFP