Giving a push to French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron, former United States President Barack Obama on Thursday endorsed the centrist banker's presidency, in his first dive back into international politics since leaving the White House.
Macron released a video on Thursday morning from Obama, in which the former US President backed the young French presidential candidate, saying that he has stood up for "liberal values."
"I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run," Obama said. "He has stood up for liberal values; he put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world; and he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to people's hopes, and not their fears."
The final round of the French presidential elections, set to be held on Sunday (May, 7), will see Macron facing off the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the runoff vote. Latest polls suggest that after the final debate between the two, Macron is well ahead.
The former US President said that he does not plan to get involved in political situations often, but the French elections is crucial for France's future.
"I'm not planning to get involved in many elections now that I don't have to run for office again, but the French election is very important to the future of France and the values that we care so much about. Because the success of France matters to the entire world," he said.
An Obama aide said that Macron has asked Obama for his support, and that the former president had called the French elections candidate privately in April and had praised him. Obama had declined to make any endorsement at the time.
However, Obama has now decided to relent as he believes France's success impacts international challenges on the global stage, the aide said, according to the Associated Press.
Obama's endorsement of Macron is unusual for a former president, Political scientist Dov H Levin of Carnegie-Mellon University said. Levin said that he has not yet come across an instance where a former president offered an endorsement in a foreign leadership race like Obama did.
