International News

PARIS, (APP/AFP): French Economy Minister Emmanuel
Macron on Thursday denied reports that he is raising funds for a presidential election war chest and would announce his bid next month.
“These two assertions are totally false,” the 38-year-old rising
star told reporters. “I won’t declare next month and… I have not
raised any funds to this end.”
Early this month Paris Match magazine reported that Macron raised
nearly 10 million pounds (12.75 million euros, $14.5 million) during
a trip to London to “fund a campaign if he decides to run”.
Then the Mediapart news website reported on Wednesday that Macron
would announce his bid on June 10, prompting categorical denials from
his aides.
The former banker said Thursday: “I will not do anything in June
aside from my job as minister” while nevertheless evoking the need for an “overhaul” of the Socialist government’s agenda.
Government spokesman Stephane Le Foll said earlier that he hoped the
Mediapart report was a “hoax”.
Macron made waves last month by setting up his own political movement,
“En Marche” (On the Move), prompting cabinet colleagues to call on him to get into line.
The deeply unpopular President Francois Hollande has said he will not
decide until the end of the year whether to seek re-election.
Opinion polls predict he would be eliminated in the first round of the
two-round contest starting on April 23.