Green presenter to run for president

GREEN presenter Nicolas Hulot has announced he will run for the French presidency in 2012.

The founder of the ecology group the Fondation Nicolas Hulot said he wanted to begin a "new society both ecologically and socially".

He announced his declaration in the Seine-Saint-Denis, a department known for its high poverty and crime rates.

While Hulot said he hoped to have the backing of Europe Ecologie and the Green party for his campaign, he was unclear whether he would be standing in their primary elections.

Both parties have potential candidates of their own.

In 2007, Hulot mulled the idea of a presidential bid, before deciding against it, preferring instead to get candidates to sign up to a pact of environmental promises.
While candidates readily signed up, it meant environmental issues were hardly discussed during the campaign.

Hulot said his experience with his foundation, which he began 20 years ago, showed that, rather than being a fringe or special issue, the environment was a subject appreciated by a wide range of people and the majority of voters.

Photo: Olivier Tétard