His candidature, and his historic tour, championed on the night by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and Parti Socialiste leader Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, has captured the imagination of French supporters and those across Europe.
The Lyon rally was the last in a tour that has seen Schulz visit 25 EU countries in ‘campaign mode’. Schulz has spoken before crowds of thousands and has mobilised activists to boost turnout across the continent.
The European dimension was emphasised by Schulz who noted that he had just arrived in Lyon from the east of Croatia, where he had been surveying the flood–hit region with Croatian Prime Minister, and social democratic leader, Zoran Milanovic.
He will end his campaign in his home region, in the town of Aachen, on Saturday afternoon.
Schulz filmed a short video before taking to the stage in Lyon tonight.
