March 4

French President Emmanuel Macron says he will run for the country's presidential election slated for April.

Macron officially announced his candidacy in a letter published by several newspapers on Thursday. He said, "I am running to defend our values that the world's disorders are threatening."

Macron won the previous presidential election five years ago at the age of 39 -- the youngest in French history. The centrist significantly changed the country's political structure, which had been dominated by two main political parties.

He has also served as a mediator for the Ukraine crisis, having held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin 13 times since December.

Macron is leading in public opinion polls ahead of the election.

He is followed by far-right leader Marine Le Pen, Valerie Pecresse of the right-wing largest opposition Republicans party, and far-right critic Eric Zemmour. Le Pen faced Macron in a runoff in the previous presidential election.

NHK