PARIS—The man who served as France’s top cop during a series of bloody terror attacks became the nation’s new prime minister on Tuesday after Manuel Valls stepped down to focus on running for president.
Conceding he is “not a favorite” to win the presidency, Valls resigned as prime minister a day after announcing he would run to replace the man who appointed him, unpopular Socialist President Francois Hollande.
Hollande, who announced last week he would not seek a second term, named Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, a close ally, to replace Valls.
“I was a happy prime minister” despite challenges that included terror attacks, Valls said in a ceremony transferring power. “I leave in calm ... (because Cazeneuve) is a man of state.”
“You are a friend, a brother,” he added.
