President Francois Hollande on Monday endorsed pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron in May's presidential run-off, citing "the risk for our country" in the event of the far-right's Marine Le Pen winning power.
In a televised statement, Hollande said France risked "becoming isolated and breaking away from the European Union" if the anti-EU Le Pen were elected, adding: "For my part, I will vote for Emmanuel Macron."