French economy minister launches own political movement

Reform-minded French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron has launched his own political movement, declaring he wanted to promote "new ideas" that were neither "of the right nor the left" a year ahead of the next presidential election.
Macron, a 38-year-old former banker who was brought into the Socialist government in 2014 to try to turn around the ailing French economy, yesterday said the movement called "En Marche" (On the move) would spur debate on how to tackle "blockages" in French society.
"It will not be a movement to produce yet another presidential candidate, that is not my priority today," he assured.

His aim, he said, was to win over a majority of French people to "new ideas for the country" that could be implemented in the future.
"That's the only ambition one should have. It's radical, it seems a bit crazy talking about it tonight, but there is such energy in the country!" the fresh-faced minister said.
Over the past year-and-a-half, Macron has become the face of the centrist shift of President Francois Hollande's government.

Lionised by liberals for challenging the key planks of French Socialism, like the 35-hour work week, he has been lampooned by die-hard leftists as too cosy with business.

The minister, who is not a card-carrying member of the Socialist Party, said his movement would be open to members of all "republican" parties -- a label often used to exclude the far-right National Front.
His formation of a political movement will fuel speculation about his political ambitions in the run-up to next year's election.
Hollande, who has been plagued by abysmal approval ratings, has said he will not seek re-election if it does not succeed in cutting stubbornly high unemployment.