French ecologist de Rugy endorses Macron in new upset to socialist Hamon

French ecologist Francois de Rugy on Wednesday said he would back the presidential bid of independent centrist contender Emmanuel Macron, dealing a fresh blow to Socialist Party contender Benoit Hamon, who eyed an election deal with the Greens to boost his chances to pass the second round of elections on May 7.

De Rugy, who participated in the left-wing parties primary that elected Hamon, decided that "the ideas I defended are closer to those defended by Emmanuel Macron."

"I've been saying I want the unity of the left and of progressive forces," De Rugy told France Info radio.

"That's why I draw this conclusion today that I want to take part in the renewal of politics that Emmanuel Macron has launched," he added.

Two months ahead of the presidential race, De Rugy's decision is likely to raise doubts over Hamon's credibility to rally a majority.

Unlike in 2011 when President Francois Hollande had managed to rally the Green and far-left parties behind him, severe rifts in the broader left party is challenging Hamon and hampering his presidential bid.

After his nomination as the left representative for the two-round presidential race, Hamon has been seeking an election deal with hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and is bargaining with Green Party candidate Yannick Jadot, who is expected to disclose his decision of a possible candidacy withdrawal in favor of Hamon by the end of this week.

In a further upset, Hamon's talks with Melenchon to join forces were fruitless.

"There is a desire on Melenchon's part to go on right to the end," Hamon told the local broadcaster Europe1 on Tuesday.

Opinion polls said that given the ruling Socialist Party's current unpopularity, the left-wing politician has little chance of making it to the run-off round of the presidential election. Endit