Macron: There is no political exchange for supporting Sarkozy in the second round

French President Emmanuel Macron today denied that there was any broader agreement with former Conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy on supporting the latter in the run-up to the April 24 run-off presidential election.

French media have speculated that Macron, who will need a new majority after the parliamentary elections to be held later this year after the presidential election, secured Sarkozy’s support after offering political influence in return.

“There was no agreement,” Macron told France 2m a day after Sarkozy said he would support him. Macron faces a difficult showdown with far-right candidate Marin Le Pen.

Sarkozy’s support will help Macron attract voters who supported the conservative candidate Valerie Pecres in the first round of elections, but it could also prevent left-wing voters from seeing it as confirmation that Macron is as right-wing as Sarkozy.

Sarkozy, 67, is France’s last conservative president and is still considered an influential figure in the center-right Republican Party.

However, even the existence of Republicans now seems to be threatened as many of their voters backed either Macron or Lepen in Sunday’s first round.

Macron also said today that he was ready to forge new political alliances to continue reforming France.

“The rifts we have in the country will require me not only to secure a majority, but also to gather all those political forces behind me who do not fully share my views on all issues, but would be open to working with me. in some reforms, “Macron said.

“I’m not talking about coalitions,” he said, adding that such cross-party agreements do not fit into France’s presidential political system.

Source: AMPE