“I always vote socialist” and “I am faithful and loyal, especially when it is difficult”, declared the former president (2012-2017) during a meeting in Limoges with the candidate, credited around 2% of the votes. votes in the polls.
Mr Hollande acknowledged the "extremely difficult context" of the current campaign, but Anne Hidalgo "has courage, tenacity, so she has my support", he continued.
The former head of state called for "pursuing the great movement which is called socialism, and which has not ended its journey", during this meeting in the presence of 400 to 500 activists and sympathizers.
"It's up to us to be there the day after the election", he continued, adding that an "initiative will have to be taken to rebuild the left of responsibility".
"The election will determine the very conditions for the recovery" of the left government, said Mr Hollande, adding: "I will take my full part in it".
Ms. Hidalgo hailed "strong words" which "touch me", paying a long tribute to the presidency of Mr. Holland, from the fight against terrorism to that against global warming in particular.
The ex-president had until then been little involved in Anne Hidalgo's campaign, with the exception of a meeting during a trip by the candidate to Tulle, her Corrèze stronghold.
According to those around him, he "does not rule out" running for the legislative elections in the first constituency of Corrèze.
According to some socialist executives, Mr. Holland would have been tempted at the end of January to replace Anne Hidalgo in the race for the Elysée because of the bad polls, before the idea - revealed by an article in Le Monde - was abandoned.
© 2022 AFP