France, April 24 -- "I wasn't involved in politics before [becoming president] and I won't be involved afterwards," the president told students in Nicosia on Thursday, during a two-day visit to Cyprus for a European Council meeting.

Elected in 2017 aged 39, Macron became France's youngest president since the 5th Republic was founded in 1958. He was re-elected in 2022 but cannot stand for a third term in next year's presidential polls.

His comments stand in marked contrast to those made in July 2025 in Paris when he told a rally of his party's youth section, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary, "I will need you in two years, in five years, in 10 years".

It was seen as a sign he was preparing for the 2032 presidenti...