French Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron in Paris on February 24, 2016 (AFP / Thomas Samson)
Paris: French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron received a boost Wednesday after veteran centrist Francois Bayrou backed him and offered a pact to prevent "the failure of France".
Bayrou, who had hinted at his own presidential run, announced he would not mount a rival bid to avoid splitting centrist votes to the benefit of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who he said poses a "major and immediate threat for our country and Europe".
