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News Analysis: Unpopular Hollande rules out second presidential term

Xinhua, December 2, 2016 Adjust font size:

With his decision on Thursday not to seek a second term, Francois Hollande has become the first president of the 58-year-old Fifth Republic to do so.

Pundits attribute his decision to pathetic approval ratings and a strategic choice to avoid split among the leftists.

The 62-year-old Socialist is no doubt France's most unpopular post-war president. A new poll on Wednesday predicted that, if he chooses to run, he would win only 7 percent of the vote in the first round of next year's presidential election.

His popularity has nosedived since he defeated incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012, with 52 percent of the vote.

His flip-flops on key issues, such as shifting wealth super-tax to pro-business reform, dismayed many on the left. His labor-market reform frustrated grassroots supporters and triggered protests.

His popularity was also undermined by high unemployment, lackluster economic growth, terrorist attacks and wavering security reforms.

Hollande's image was also negatively affected by his private life. After his tryst with actress Julie Gayet was disclosed, his ex-girlfriend claimed in her book that he made crass comments, including calling the poor "toothless."

Moreover, a book titled "A President Shouldn't Say That" written by two journalists from Le Monde newspaper revealed that he let loose about senior lawyers and judges, describing the justice system as "a cowardly institution."

His comments on Claude Bartolone, head of the National Assembly and a Socialist veteran, disclosed in the book, triggered the latter's dissatisfaction and showed the split within the Left.

Analysts believed that Hollande's withdrawal from the presidential race would avoid bigger split among leftists and pave the way for Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who has announced his readiness to run for president.

Following Hollande's announcement, Valls said on Thursday night that the president had made "the choice of a statesman."

Seven contenders including former ministers Arnaud Montebourg and Benoit Hamon have announced to participate in the two-round left-wing primary scheduled for Jan. 22 and 29.

Former Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and Jean-Luc Melenchon, two left-wing politicians, have said they will run for president as independents.

A left-wing candidate will face strong competition from former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who represents the center-right, and Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front. Endi