Roundup: Ex-economy minister announces candidacy for French presidency

Former economy minister Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced he will be a candidate for the next year's French presidential election.

"I'm ready. I am a candidate for the presidency of the Republic because I believe that we can succeed, that France can succeed," Macron said.

"This decision is the fruit of an intimate and deep conviction," he added.

Denouncing a blocked political system and "obsolete rules," the former investment banker called on "all women and men of good will, those who believe in freedom and progress" to act in a bid to "to bring France into the 21st century, to make the country recovering."

"In a few months on the occasion of the presidential election, an opportunity is offered to us. The responsibility of the president of the Republic is immense and I am aware of it," he told reporters.

Macron, 38, said he was joining the race to the Elysee Palace as an independent candidate and campaigning for "hope" and "fight for all of France."

"The challenge for me is not to appeal to the left. It is not for me today to appeal to the right. The challenge is to bring the French together," he said.

The pro-business contender joined the Socialist government in August 2014 to replace ousted economy minister Arnaud Montebourg. Two years later, he quit his post to focus on his political career.

He has never held an elected post. He disclosed his political ambition after creating his own political movement "En Marche" (On the Move) in April, vowing to lead the movement "to 2017 and to victory."

A recent Elabe survey showed that Macron would garner 27 percent of votes in the first round of election, while Hollande who is projected to collect 12 percent of the vote.

However, pollsters predict a race between the moderate conservative Alain Juppe and far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the second round of presidential elections.

Analysts said Macron's pro-European and centrist rhetoric is likely to further split the ruling Socialists and compete with Juppe for the same vote.

The long-awaited Macron presidential bid provoked a deluge of critics that branded Hollande's ex-economic adviser a "traitor" who lacks experience.

During a visit to Parisian suburbs, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls called Macron's candidacy "an individual adventure."

"To bear this responsibility (of head of state) we need to have experience which has been tested by time," he said.

Juppe said the former banker is "betraying Francois Hollande, who he stabbed in his back."

Francois Fillon, former prime minister, is the third most popular candidate in centre-right primary, according to pollsters. He said: "The French will not hand their destiny to someone who has no experience, and especially who has not demonstrated anything yet."

The two rounds of France's 2017 elections to choose a new head of state is set for April 23 and May 7. Endit