We also welcome the call from the PS leadership for unity ahead of the vital presidential elections later this year.
With votes cast by millions of people, Benoît Hamon now has a clear mandate to represent left-wing and progressive voters in the upcoming campaign.
PES president Sergei Stanishev said:
“Led by Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, the Parti Socialiste was the first party in France to hold open primaries for presidential candidates. It is no surprise that socialists led the way in democratic reform, and other parties have now followed.
“By choosing Hamon as their candidate, left-wing voters have sent a signal that they value a strong welfare system, environmental values, and a new work and wellbeing paradigm.
“Europe’s socialists and democrats stand firmly behind Benoît Hamon and the Parti Socialiste in their fight to defeat the ultraconservative Fillon and extreme right Le Pen.”