French minister says Macron's reelection would boost growth

NEW YORK (AP) — French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire says President Emmanuel Macron’s potential reelection next year is “very important” to further boost growth — in a clear endorsement of a candidacy that's not yet been formally announced.

Macron is widely expected to seek a second term in the presidential election scheduled for April, but hasn’t officially revealed his intentions.

In an interview with the Associated Press Friday during a two-day visit to the United States, Le Maire said: “I think it's very important that Emmanuel Macron is reelected. I think our country needs consistency and stability."

Polls for months have shown Macron, a pro-business centrist, to be the front-runner in next year’s presidential election, where he's set to face major contenders from the right and the far-right.

“We must have a democratic, serene debate with (far-right candidate) Eric Zemmour, with other far-right leaders, to say: 'Your vision of France is not my vision of France,'” Le Maire said, noting that boosting growth is one response to the concerns expressed by the French.

Since Macron's election in May 2017, “we had some successes, we also had some failures,” Le Maire said. “We failed to implement the pension reform. That’s a regret because it was needed. We were not able to do it. We’ll do it in the next term.”

Protracted, intense street protests and the COVID-19 pandemic led Macron to delay the difficult overhauling of France’s pension system, which had been a key campaign promise.

“When you look at (Macron's) five-year term ... France is in the right direction, it is on the path to success,” Le Maire added, noting that the French government passed measures to make the labor market more flexible, and cut taxes on businesses.

“This is a key point I want to tell all...