Italy will go to the polls on March 4 with a coalition government expected to be formed and europhile Mr Macron has waded into the debate.
A conservative alliance of former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia and its right-wing allies – the Northern League and Brothers of Italy – is expected to win the most seats, but polls say it will probably fall short of an absolute majority.
Mr Macron said he hopes the winner has a “clear vision for Europe”.
The French President said: ”A prediction for Italy? I would not dare. Concerned? No, because I think there is room for the game of alliances.
“We are not interested in a strong or weak partner, only a partner that has a clear vision for Europe.” Italian Antonio Tajani, president of the European Parliament, echoed Mr Macron’s views.
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He said: “After the elections, Italy has to increase its role in Europe.
“Unfortunately, today Italy is not one of the great protagonists in Europe.” The comments come as insiders say Mr Renzi, leader of the Democratic Party (PD,) is courting a centrist partnership with Mr Macron’s En Marche movement after Italy’s elections next month. An Italian Socialist MEP told Politico: “There’s strong concern that Renzi will follow whatever Macron does.
“There was recently a discussion within the Socialist group and Italians faced accusations that Renzi is playing for Macron.” Mr Macron came close to endorsing the PD last month after he wanted to “underline what a pleasure” it had been to work with Mr Gentiloni, the PD Prime Minister of Italy, on European issues.
At a press conference he said: “Allow me simply to say, from my position, that Europe was very fortunate to have Mr Gentiloni in his role.
“Europe is good for Italy, and an Italy that believes in Europe is good for Europe.
“I hope that we can continue the important and ambitious work that we started.”
Mr Renzi has denied the claims that he is seeking an alliance with En Marche, there was speculation his party could be plotting a transnational candidate list for the European Parliament election in 2019, joining forces with En Marche and Spain’s Ciudadanos party.
And he appeared to heighten the rumours by meeting Ciudadanos leader Albert Rivera in Rome last month. Some Italians are fed up with the EU for failing to help their country deal with with a growing number of migrants arriving from across the Mediterranean and for forcing it into austerity during the eurozone crisis that prolonged their economic stagnation.
Italy has a population size similar to Britain and France but its political system is unstable.
Mr Macron sees 2018 as a crucial year to boost European integration, but these efforts would be hampered by political uncertainty – or a populist win – in Italy.