Macron aims to take pulse of nation on political tour de France

President begins pre-election meet-the-people exercise with visit to Lot department in south-west

Emmanuel Macron has set off on his six-week political tour de France aimed at taking the pulse" of the country as it emerges from the coronavirus crisis.

In the run-up to regional elections this month and, more importantly, the presidential battle next year, the French leader will make two regional visits a week until mid-July.