Macron says he will quit politics entirely after presidency ends

French President Emmanuel Macron declared on Thursday that he will not continue any political activity after his second term ends in 2027, the maximum allowed under French law. Speaking during an exchange with students in the Greek Cypriot administration, Macron said: “I did not do politics before (the presidency) and I will not do it after.” The statement marks a rare commitment from a sitting president to fully withdraw from public political life upon leaving office.

Reflections on a second term

Macron also reflected on the difficulties of governing in his final years. “What is the hardest after nine years is that you have to keep what you did well and try to go further, but sometimes you have to go back to things you did not do well,” he said. He added that balancing achievements with unfinished reforms was the most challenging aspect of his final term. Macron’s presidency has seen significant domestic reforms, including pension changes, as well as major international roles in European security and Middle East diplomacy.

Visit to Cyprus

Macron traveled to Nicosia for an informal European Council meeting held Thursday and Friday. He was received by Nikos Christodoulides, leader of the Greek Cypriot administration, which currently holds the EU term presidency.