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PARIS /Â AP
The real winner of France’s left-wing presidential primary may be a man who demonstrably shunned it: Emmanuel Macron.
The 39-year-old former investment banker and ex-economy minister with pro-free market, pro-European views has chosen not to take part in the Socialist primary. Instead, in recent days he has been drawing attention away from the campaign by traveling to the Mideast and pushing like-minded lawmakers to abandon the once-powerful, now-troubled Socialists and join his centrist movement.
Voters will choose on Sunday between ex-Socialist prime minister Manuel Valls and Benoit Hamon, an ex-government member and hard-left candidate.
Whoever the winner is, polls show election prospects remain poor for the Socialist nominee in the April-May presidential race. Meanwhile, Macron is ranked the third most popular choice for president, just behind the two top contenders, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and conservative candidate Francois Fillon.
Macron announced his movement “In Motion†(En Marche) will present one contender in every electoral district for the parliamentary elections in June. He issued a call for candidates, saying applications will be examined “quickly†on a first come, first served basis.
This move puts pressure on lawmakers, especially those on the center-left who would like to be associated with Macron’s popularity — which now appears to be much higher than the Socialist party’s.
Meanwhile, Macron is also seeking to boost his international stature.
In Lebanon this week, he discussed the Syrian conflict, terrorism and refugee issues with the country’s highest authorities. “Today one cannot be a French official, one cannot pretend to take a role in the Republic, without being aware of the diplomatic and military situations which are part of our worldâ€, Macron said in Beirut.
Earlier this month, he visited Germany where he addressed a conference on the European Union in English — a language he can speak fluently, a rare trait among French politicians.
He also visited the United States in December and met with Antonio Guterres before he became Secretary-General of the United Nations.