French anti-globalization campaigner Jose Bove on Thursday declared his candidacy in the coming presidential elections at Saint Denis in northern suburb of Paris.

Born in 1953, Jose Bove, whose original name was Joseph Bove, is one of the leading figures of the anti-globalization movement. His reputation has largely been built on civil disobedience and the imprisonment widely reported in the media.

Bove, who opposed to the Genetically Engineered Organisms (GEO) and "junk foods" embodied by restaurants such as McDonald's, is a founding member of the Peasant Confederation and once served as its spokesman.

Bove declared his presidential candidacy in the summer of 2006, but retracted his name in November, owing to lack of convincing support. A petition was later circulated on the internet demanding his return to the electoral campaign.

A total of 46 people has declared their candidacy for the presidential election which is slated for April 22.

Source: Xinhua