Paris (AFP)
The Elysee denied on Thursday information from Figaro that Emmanuel Macron had recently raised the possibility of a resignation followed by a new candidacy for the presidency of the Republic, the spokesman even judging "wacky" this idea.
"We deny this information. The President of the Republic has never mentioned his resignation," the presidency told AFP. He "never participated in a videoconference with donors", during which, according to the daily, he made these comments.
In an article published on Thursday on his site, Le Figaro writes that Emmanuel Macron, "at a meeting of the first circle of donors in 2017 in London", "clearly showed that he was ready, according to his favorite expression, to take your risk '".
According to one of the participants quoted by the newspaper, the president would have indicated considering considering the possibility of resigning to cause, "in the weeks or months to come", an early presidential election. "I am sure of winning because there is nobody in front", he would have assured, according to the daily.
Asked about France Info, government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said the Élysée had denied it. "It's pretty crazy, I must admit, to imagine a resignation of the President of the Republic," she added, saying that "it would be both completely contrary to the spirit of our institutions , and even quite distant from the character of Emmanuel Macron, who is rather someone who copes with crises and difficult times ".
The head of state must speak on Sunday at 8 p.m. to draw up a first assessment of the health crisis, as a new phase of deconfinement approaches.
A second presidential intervention could then be organized between the second round of municipal elections, on June 28, and the National Day of July 14 to detail his plans for the end of the quinquennium.
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