<p>There is no doubt that President Emmanuel Macron of France won a convincing reelection over Marine Le Pen, his far-right challenger, on Sunday. Macron scored a thumping 17 point margin of victory, becoming the first French leader to be reelected to a second term in 20 years.</p>

<p>In the view of many, the electoral system worked as it was intended to, with nearly 60% of those who voted joining together to defend against a xenophobic and nationalist far-right widely regarded as a threat to French democracy.</p>

<p>That is, perhaps, unless you are a supporter of Le Pen, who was blocked in the final round for a second consecutive time.</p>

<p>“I think we’re heading into five more years of crisis, probably worse, because people are just fed up,” Sébastien Denneulin, 46, a Le Pen supporter, said Monday morning in Roye, a northern far-right stronghold.</p>

<p>Even as Le Pen has edged her party into the mainstream, ensconcing it firmly in the political establishment, her supporters say they are growing frustrated with a lack of representation in the political system.</p>

<p>The far right enjoyed its strongest ever showing at the ballot box on Sunday, as Le Pen widened her appeal with pocketbook issues important in parts of the country like this northern region, where in the past two generations voters have shifted to the far right from the political left along with deindustrialization.</p>

<p>The challenge for Macron will be how to lure back into the political fold the 41.5% of voters who cast ballots for Le Pen — and the roughly 28% who opted not to vote at all. Despite the president’s clear victory, the election results disguised myriad challenges that could make his next five years in office even more tumultuous than the last.</p>

<p>As French news media organizations drew up maps of the nationwide breakdown of the runoff vote, they showed a widening and deepening fracture along the French equivalent of American blue and red states.</p>

<p>In the reddest areas of France, there was frustration that Le Pen had been defeated once again and a strong sentiment that her supporters were continuing to be shut out of the political system.</p>

<p>In Roye, some people gathered at the QG brasserie voiced anger when they learned of the results on their smartphones on Sunday evening. One man set fire to his voter’s card.</p>

<p>Tony Rochon, 39, a roofer, said he had voted for a Le Pen — either Marine or her father, Jean-Marie — all of his life. But each time, he said, other political parties had united to deny a Le Pen victory in the presidential race. Then the same thing had happened in legislative elections — also a two-round system — effectively marginalizing Le Pen’s influence in Parliament.</p>

<p>In 2017, for instance, while Le Pen garnered 34% of the vote in the presidential election, her party secured only eight seats in Parliament — not even enough to form a parliamentary group.</p>

<p>That year, Macron promised to introduce proportional representation in Parliament, which experts say would better reflect the population’s political beliefs. But he failed to fulfill his pledge.</p>

<p>“That’s why the only option for us is to take to the streets,” said Rochon, who joined the Yellow Vest anti-government protests in Paris. “Macron has no legitimacy.”</p>

<p>He and his wife, Adelaide Rochon, 33, a dental assistant who has also always voted for Le Pen’s party, said they believed that the vote had been rigged.</p>

<p>“We don’t know a single person around us who voted for Macron,” Adelaide Rochon said. “It’s impossible that he won.”</p>

<p>Not impossible, actually.</p>

<p>In Roye, a town of 6,000 people, two out of three voters backed Le Pen in the runoff. But nationwide Macron drew many votes — 47%, according to one poll — not necessarily because people endorsed him, but because they joined the so-called Republican front against the far right, whose politics remain anathema to a majority of French despite Le Pen’s persistent efforts to remake and soften her image.</p>

<p>For others, like Madeleine Rosier, a member of the leftist France Unbowed, a choice between Macron and what she deemed an unacceptable far-right candidate was no choice at all. She did not cast a ballot on Sunday after voting for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the veteran leftist who came in third place in the first round.</p>

<p>“I didn’t want to grant Emmanuel Macron legitimacy,” she said.</p>

<p>The abstention rate — the highest in a runoff since 1969 — reflected the widespread disillusionment with the political system that sent protesters from towns like Roye to the Champs-Élysées in Paris as part of the anti-government Yellow Vest movement in 2018, the biggest political crisis of Macron’s first term.</p>

<p>That anger persists in many pockets of the country. In another measure of political disillusionment, more than 3 million people cast blank or null-and-void ballots — and that does not include the 13.7 million who opted not to vote at all.</p>

<p>Étienne Ollion, a sociologist and professor at the Polytechnique engineering school, said the importance of such voters and those who reluctantly backed Macron to keep Le Pen from power, as well as the level of abstention give Macron “a relatively limited legitimacy.”</p>

<p>The election results underscored a growing sense of “democratic fatigue and democratic fracture” in France, Ollion said.</p>

<p>Given Macron’s unfulfilled pledge to reform Parliament, Chloé Morin, a political scientist at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, a Paris-based think tank, said there were doubts about Macron’s “capacity to take into account this extremely divided political landscape and opposition parties that will inevitably, in all logic, be little represented” in Parliament.</p>

<p>Daniel Cohn-Bendit, an ally of Macron and a former Green member of the European Parliament, said in an interview that “an unfair French electoral system” had led to governing that ignores the political opposition and various actors of society.</p>

<p>“To have a Parliament where someone who gets 42% of the votes only has about 20 lawmakers, that’s unacceptable,” he said, referring to Le Pen.</p>

<p>Shortly after Macron was reelected on Sunday, there were immediate signs that discontent surrounding French democracy would mark his second term.</p>

<p>Hundreds of protesters gathered in Paris and other big cities to oppose Macron’s second term. The protests were marred by violent clashes with police, who fired tear gas in Paris to disperse the crowd.</p>

<p>Protesters in Paris converged from the city center to the large Place de la République, chanting a song originating from the Yellow Vest movement, “We are here, even if Macron doesn’t want it, we are here!”</p>

<p>By midnight, the police had cleared the Place de la République of protesters. But they had scrawled, in red, a warning on the large statue of Marianne, an emblem of the French Republic, in the middle of the square: “Beware of revenge when all the poor people stand up.”</p>


There is no doubt that President Emmanuel Macron of France won a convincing reelection over Marine Le Pen, his far-right challenger, on Sunday. Macron scored a thumping 17 point margin of victory, becoming the first French leader to be reelected to a second term in 20 years.

There is no doubt that President Emmanuel Macron of France won a convincing reelection over Marine Le Pen, his far-right challenger, on Sunday. Macron scored a thumping 17 point margin of victory, becoming the first French leader to be reelected to a second term in 20 years. In the view of many, the electoral system worked as it was intended to, with nearly 60% of those who voted joining together to defend against a xenophobic and nationalist far-right widely regarded as a threat to French democracy. That is, perhaps, unless you are a supporter of Le Pen, who was blocked in the final round for a second consecutive time. “I think we’re heading into five more years of crisis, probably worse, because people are just fed up,” Sébastien Denneulin, 46, a Le Pen supporter, said Monday morning in Roye, a northern far-right stronghold. Even as Le Pen has edged her party into the mainstream, ensconcing it firmly in the political establishment, her supporters say they are growing frustrated with a lack of representation in the political system. The far right enjoyed its strongest ever showing at the ballot box on Sunday, as Le Pen widened her appeal with pocketbook issues important in parts of the country like this northern region, where in the past two generations voters have shifted to the far right from the political left along with deindustrialization. The challenge for Macron will be how to lure back into the political fold the 41.5% of voters who cast ballots for Le Pen — and the roughly 28% who opted not to vote at all. Despite the president’s clear victory, the election results disguised myriad challenges that could make his next five years in office even more tumultuous than the last. As French news media organizations drew up maps of the nationwide breakdown of the runoff vote, they showed a widening and deepening fracture along the French equivalent of American blue and red states. In the reddest areas of France, there was frustration that Le Pen had been defeated once again and a strong sentiment that her supporters were continuing to be shut out of the political system. In Roye, some people gathered at the QG brasserie voiced anger when they learned of the results on their smartphones on Sunday evening. One man set fire to his voter’s card. Tony Rochon, 39, a roofer, said he had voted for a Le Pen — either Marine or her father, Jean-Marie — all of his life. But each time, he said, other political parties had united to deny a Le Pen victory in the presidential race. Then the same thing had happened in legislative elections — also a two-round system — effectively marginalizing Le Pen’s influence in Parliament. In 2017, for instance, while Le Pen garnered 34% of the vote in the presidential election, her party secured only eight seats in Parliament — not even enough to form a parliamentary group. That year, Macron promised to introduce proportional representation in Parliament, which experts say would better reflect the population’s political beliefs. But he failed to fulfill his pledge. “That’s why the only option for us is to take to the streets,” said Rochon, who joined the Yellow Vest anti-government protests in Paris. “Macron has no legitimacy.” He and his wife, Adelaide Rochon, 33, a dental assistant who has also always voted for Le Pen’s party, said they believed that the vote had been rigged. “We don’t know a single person around us who voted for Macron,” Adelaide Rochon said. “It’s impossible that he won.” Not impossible, actually. In Roye, a town of 6,000 people, two out of three voters backed Le Pen in the runoff. But nationwide Macron drew many votes — 47%, according to one poll — not necessarily because people endorsed him, but because they joined the so-called Republican front against the far right, whose politics remain anathema to a majority of French despite Le Pen’s persistent efforts to remake and soften her image. For others, like Madeleine Rosier, a member of the leftist France Unbowed, a choice between Macron and what she deemed an unacceptable far-right candidate was no choice at all. She did not cast a ballot on Sunday after voting for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the veteran leftist who came in third place in the first round. “I didn’t want to grant Emmanuel Macron legitimacy,” she said. The abstention rate — the highest in a runoff since 1969 — reflected the widespread disillusionment with the political system that sent protesters from towns like Roye to the Champs-Élysées in Paris as part of the anti-government Yellow Vest movement in 2018, the biggest political crisis of Macron’s first term. That anger persists in many pockets of the country. In another measure of political disillusionment, more than 3 million people cast blank or null-and-void ballots — and that does not include the 13.7 million who opted not to vote at all. Étienne Ollion, a sociologist and professor at the Polytechnique engineering school, said the importance of such voters and those who reluctantly backed Macron to keep Le Pen from power, as well as the level of abstention give Macron “a relatively limited legitimacy.” The election results underscored a growing sense of “democratic fatigue and democratic fracture” in France, Ollion said. Given Macron’s unfulfilled pledge to reform Parliament, Chloé Morin, a political scientist at the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, a Paris-based think tank, said there were doubts about Macron’s “capacity to take into account this extremely divided political landscape and opposition parties that will inevitably, in all logic, be little represented” in Parliament. Daniel Cohn-Bendit, an ally of Macron and a former Green member of the European Parliament, said in an interview that “an unfair French electoral system” had led to governing that ignores the political opposition and various actors of society. “To have a Parliament where someone who gets 42% of the votes only has about 20 lawmakers, that’s unacceptable,” he said, referring to Le Pen. Shortly after Macron was reelected on Sunday, there were immediate signs that discontent surrounding French democracy would mark his second term. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Paris and other big cities to oppose Macron’s second term. The protests were marred by violent clashes with police, who fired tear gas in Paris to disperse the crowd. Protesters in Paris converged from the city center to the large Place de la République, chanting a song originating from the Yellow Vest movement, “We are here, even if Macron doesn’t want it, we are here!” By midnight, the police had cleared the Place de la République of protesters. But they had scrawled, in red, a warning on the large statue of Marianne, an emblem of the French Republic, in the middle of the square: “Beware of revenge when all the poor people stand up.”

Convincing victory disguises steep challenges for Macron

<p>Emmanuel Macron is set to win a second French President term after defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen, the projections on Sunday (April 24) showed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Polling firms for French television channels based on a sample of the vote count projected that Macron was set to win 57.6-58.2 per cent of the vote compared with Le Pen on 41.8-42.4 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Important to note that the outcome is expected to be confirmed by official results overnight.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Marine Le Pen said that the result is in "itself an earth-shattering victory (for us)." She added, "I fear that the five-year term that is about to begin will not break with the brutal methods of the previous one."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"In order to avoid the monopolisation of power by a few, more than ever I will pursue my commitment to France and the French people with the energy, perseverance and affection that you know me for," she added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>IN PICS |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-emmanuel-macron-his-life-and-political-career-in-pictures-473486">Who is Emmanuel Macron? His life and political career in pictures</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, congratulated Macron after the projections.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We can count on France for five more years," Michel wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen tweeted: "I am delighted to be able to continue our excellent cooperation."&nbsp;</p>

<p>British PM Boris Johnson also congratulated Macron, he tweeted, "Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi congratulated Macron. "The victory of Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;in the French presidential election is great news for all of Europe," he said in a statement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Draghi added that France and Italy will work with partners to build "a stronger, fairer Europe capable of acting independently to overcome the great challenges of our times, starting with the war in Ukraine".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We are ready to work together immediately with ambition and determination to serve our countries and all European citizens."&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Chaleureux bravo cher <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a><br />
<br />
En cette période tourmentée, nous avons besoin d’une Europe solide et d’une France totalement engagée pour une Union européenne plus souveraine et plus stratégique.<br />
<br />
Nous pouvons compter sur la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/France?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#France</a> #5 ans de plus. <a href="https://t.co/JEPf6Pqght">pic.twitter.com/JEPf6Pqght</a></p>
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlesMichel/status/1518289840881680385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Cher <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>, toutes mes félicitations pour votre réélection à la présidence de la République.<br />
<br />
Je me réjouis de pouvoir continuer notre excellente coopération.<br />
<br />
Ensemble, nous ferons avancer la France et l’Europe.</p>
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1518292235632132101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world.<br />
<br />
🇬🇧🇫🇷</p>
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1518298495773519873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;French Elections 2022: France votes to pick the next President&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>


Emmanuel Macron is set to win a second French President term after defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen, the projections on Sunday (April 24) showed. Polling firms for French television channels based on a sample of the vote count projected that Macron was set to win 57.

Emmanuel Macron is set to win a second French President term after defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen, the projections on Sunday (April 24) showed. Polling firms for French television channels based on a sample of the vote count projected that Macron was set to win 57.6-58.2 per cent of the vote compared with Le Pen on 41.8-42.4 per cent. Important to note that the outcome is expected to be confirmed by official results overnight. Marine Le Pen said that the result is in "itself an earth-shattering victory (for us)." She added, "I fear that the five-year term that is about to begin will not break with the brutal methods of the previous one." "In order to avoid the monopolisation of power by a few, more than ever I will pursue my commitment to France and the French people with the energy, perseverance and affection that you know me for," she added. IN PICS | Who is Emmanuel Macron? His life and political career in pictures European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, congratulated Macron after the projections. "We can count on France for five more years," Michel wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, Ursula von der Leyen tweeted: "I am delighted to be able to continue our excellent cooperation." British PM Boris Johnson also congratulated Macron, he tweeted, "Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world." Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi congratulated Macron. "The victory of Emmanuel Macron in the French presidential election is great news for all of Europe," he said in a statement. Draghi added that France and Italy will work with partners to build "a stronger, fairer Europe capable of acting independently to overcome the great challenges of our times, starting with the war in Ukraine". "We are ready to work together immediately with ambition and determination to serve our countries and all European citizens." Chaleureux bravo cher @EmmanuelMacron En cette période tourmentée, nous avons besoin d’une Europe solide et d’une France totalement engagée pour une Union européenne plus souveraine et plus stratégique. Nous pouvons compter sur la #France #5 ans de plus. pic.twitter.com/JEPf6Pqght — Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) April 24, 2022 × Cher @EmmanuelMacron, toutes mes félicitations pour votre réélection à la présidence de la République. Je me réjouis de pouvoir continuer notre excellente coopération. Ensemble, nous ferons avancer la France et l’Europe. — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 24, 2022 × Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world. 🇬🇧🇫🇷 — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 24, 2022 × WATCH | French Elections 2022: France votes to pick the next President ×

French Presidential Election 2022: EU chiefs, Italy PM congratulate Macron on re-election after projections

<p>French President Emmanuel&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;was on course Sunday to win a second term by defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen in presidential elections, projections showed.</p>

<p>Macron&nbsp;was set to win 57.0-58.5 per cent of the vote compared with Le Pen on 41.5-43.0 per cent, according to projections by polling firms for French television channels based on a sample of the vote count.</p>

<p>The result is narrower than their second-round clash in 2017 when the same two candidates met in the run-off and&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;polled over 66 per cent of the vote.</p>

<p>The relatively comfortable margin of victory will nonetheless give&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;some confidence as he heads into a second five-year mandate, but the election also represents the closest the far-right has ever come to winning power in France.</p>

<p>A victory by Le Pen, accused by opponents of having cosy ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, would have sent shockwaves around the world comparable to the 2016 polls that led to Brexit in Britain and Donald Trump's election in the United States.</p>

<p>The outcome, expected to be confirmed by official results overnight, will cause immense relief in Europe after fears a Le Pen presidency would leave the continent rudderless following Brexit and the departure of German chancellor Angela Merkel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Left-leaning EU leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had pleaded with France in the run-up to the vote to choose&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;over his rival, in an unusual intervention published in Le Monde newspaper.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Macron&nbsp;will be the first French president to win re-election since Jacques Chirac in 2002 after his predecessors Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande left office after only one term.</p>

<p>The 44-year-old is to make a victory speech on the Champ de Mars in central Paris at the foot of the Eiffel Tower where flag-waving supporters erupted in joy when the projections appeared at 8:00 pm local time (1800 GMT).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>High ambitions</strong></p>

<p>Macron&nbsp;will be hoping for a less complicated second term that will allow him to implement his vision of more pro-business reform and tighter EU integration after a first term shadowed by protests, then the pandemic and finally Russia's invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But he will have to win over those who backed his opponents and the millions of French who did not bother to vote.</p>

<p>On the basis of the official figures, polling organisations estimated that the abstention rate was on course for 28 percent which, if confirmed, would be the highest in any presidential election second-round run-off since 1969.</p>

<p>The outcome of the first round on April 10 had left&nbsp;Macron, 44, in a solid but not unassailable position to retain the presidency.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Convincing supporters of the hard-left third-placed candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon to hold their noses and vote for the former investment banker was a key priority for&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;in the second phase of the campaign.</p>

<p>Macron&nbsp;will also need to ensure his party finds strong grassroots support to keep control of a parliamentary majority in legislative elections that come hot on the heels of the presidential ballot in June and avoid any awkward "cohabitation" with a premier who does not share his political views.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Bitter pill for Le Pen</strong></p>

<p>High on his to-do-list is pension reform including a raising of the French retirement age which&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;has argued is essential for the budget but is likely to run into strong opposition and protests.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He will also have to rapidly return from the campaign trail to dealing with the Russian onslaught against Ukraine, with pressure on France to step up supplies of weapons to Kyiv and signs President Vladimir Putin is losing interest in any diplomacy.</p>

<p>For Le Pen, her third defeat in presidential polls will be a bitter pill to swallow after she ploughed years of effort into making herself electable and distancing her party from the legacy of its founder, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen.</p>

<p>Critics insisted her party never stopped being extreme-right and racist while&nbsp;Macron&nbsp;repeatedly pointed to her plan to ban the wearing of the Muslim headscarf in public if elected.</p>

<p>She has suggested this could be her last campaign and speculation is now expected to mount about the future of her party and the French far-right, which splintered during the campaign.</p>

<p>When Jean-Marie Le Pen reached the second round in 2002, the result stunned France and he won less than 18 percent in the subsequent run-off against Chirac.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;The battle for French Presidency: French line-up at polling booths to elect the next President</strong></p>

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French President Emmanuel Macron was on course Sunday to win a second term by defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen in presidential elections, projections showed.

French President Emmanuel Macron was on course Sunday to win a second term by defeating far-right leader Marine Le Pen in presidential elections, projections showed. Macron was set to win 57.0-58.5 per cent of the vote compared with Le Pen on 41.5-43.0 per cent, according to projections by polling firms for French television channels based on a sample of the vote count. The result is narrower than their second-round clash in 2017 when the same two candidates met in the run-off and Macron polled over 66 per cent of the vote. The relatively comfortable margin of victory will nonetheless give Macron some confidence as he heads into a second five-year mandate, but the election also represents the closest the far-right has ever come to winning power in France. A victory by Le Pen, accused by opponents of having cosy ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, would have sent shockwaves around the world comparable to the 2016 polls that led to Brexit in Britain and Donald Trump's election in the United States. The outcome, expected to be confirmed by official results overnight, will cause immense relief in Europe after fears a Le Pen presidency would leave the continent rudderless following Brexit and the departure of German chancellor Angela Merkel. Left-leaning EU leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had pleaded with France in the run-up to the vote to choose Macron over his rival, in an unusual intervention published in Le Monde newspaper. Macron will be the first French president to win re-election since Jacques Chirac in 2002 after his predecessors Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande left office after only one term. The 44-year-old is to make a victory speech on the Champ de Mars in central Paris at the foot of the Eiffel Tower where flag-waving supporters erupted in joy when the projections appeared at 8:00 pm local time (1800 GMT). High ambitions Macron will be hoping for a less complicated second term that will allow him to implement his vision of more pro-business reform and tighter EU integration after a first term shadowed by protests, then the pandemic and finally Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But he will have to win over those who backed his opponents and the millions of French who did not bother to vote. On the basis of the official figures, polling organisations estimated that the abstention rate was on course for 28 percent which, if confirmed, would be the highest in any presidential election second-round run-off since 1969. The outcome of the first round on April 10 had left Macron, 44, in a solid but not unassailable position to retain the presidency. Convincing supporters of the hard-left third-placed candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon to hold their noses and vote for the former investment banker was a key priority for Macron in the second phase of the campaign. Macron will also need to ensure his party finds strong grassroots support to keep control of a parliamentary majority in legislative elections that come hot on the heels of the presidential ballot in June and avoid any awkward "cohabitation" with a premier who does not share his political views. Bitter pill for Le Pen High on his to-do-list is pension reform including a raising of the French retirement age which Macron has argued is essential for the budget but is likely to run into strong opposition and protests. He will also have to rapidly return from the campaign trail to dealing with the Russian onslaught against Ukraine, with pressure on France to step up supplies of weapons to Kyiv and signs President Vladimir Putin is losing interest in any diplomacy. For Le Pen, her third defeat in presidential polls will be a bitter pill to swallow after she ploughed years of effort into making herself electable and distancing her party from the legacy of its founder, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen. Critics insisted her party never stopped being extreme-right and racist while Macron repeatedly pointed to her plan to ban the wearing of the Muslim headscarf in public if elected. She has suggested this could be her last campaign and speculation is now expected to mount about the future of her party and the French far-right, which splintered during the campaign. When Jean-Marie Le Pen reached the second round in 2002, the result stunned France and he won less than 18 percent in the subsequent run-off against Chirac. WATCH | The battle for French Presidency: French line-up at polling booths to elect the next President ×

French Presidential Election 2022: Emmanuel Macron defeats far-right Marine Le Pen in projections

<p>The people have spoken. French President Emmanuel Macron defeated his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in the tense run-off election on Sunday.</p>

<p>His win makes Macron the first French President to win a second term in two decades, however, the far-right was closer than ever. The margin between the two candidates, while enough to secure a comfortable win, is narrower than in the 2017 polls.</p>

<p>As per France’s Ministry of Interior website, Macron received 58.5 per cent, with 18.8 million votes, while Le Pen stood at 41.5 per cent with 13.3 million votes. In the 2017 polls, the two candidates stood at 66.1 per cent with 20.7 million votes and 33.9 per cent with 10.6 million votes.</p>

<p><img alt="Votes" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="76c79451-53b9-4713-b8c7-6cd122be0ea9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stories%20%288%29_5.jpg" /></p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-presidential-election-2022-eu-chiefs-italy-pm-congratulate-macron-on-re-election-after-projections-473520">French Presidential Election 2022: EU chiefs, Italy PM congratulate Macron on re-election after projections</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, 6.35 per cent of voters cast blank ballots in the election, voting for neither candidate.</p>

<p><strong>Social divisions out in open</strong><br />
<br />
Needless to say, the fresh election results point to a divided France. Even as Macron successfully prevented a political earthquake had his rival won, the results speak of dissatisfaction among people.</p>

<p>Acknowledging this, the French president said he would seek to make amends.</p>

<p>Taking to Twitter, he said, “To those who voted for me, not to support my ideas but to block those of the extreme right, your vote obliges me. This evening, I am no longer the candidate of one camp, but the President of all.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">À celles et ceux qui ont voté pour moi, non pour soutenir mes idées mais pour faire barrage à celles de l’extrême droite, votre vote m’oblige. Ce soir, je ne suis plus le candidat d’un camp, mais le Président de toutes et tous.</p>
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1518335324023365632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>As for Le Pen, this is her third defeat in the country’s presidential race, having previously contested in 2012 and 2017. Undoubtedly this would be a bitter pill to swallow, with all her attempts to soften her image, distancing herself and the party from the legacy of the party founder, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;What factors lead to a low voter turnout in France?</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-factors-lead-to-a-low-voter-turnout-in-france-473528/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>However, Le Pen hailed her score as a “brilliant victory” and promised to “carry on” her political career, vowing that she would never abandon the French.</p>

<p>"The ideas we represent have reached new heights... this result itself represents a brilliant victory," she told a crowd of supporters.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Allocution de Marine Le Pen <a href="https://t.co/K6zT7FFfiw">https://t.co/K6zT7FFfiw</a></p>
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLP_officiel/status/1518291497103233026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>Joining other challengers that faced defeat in the first phase of elections, she called for a new effort to hinder Macron's second term at the June Parliamentary polls.</p>

<p>"This evening, we launch the great battle for the legislative elections," Le Pen declared, expressing "hope" and encouraging opponents of the president to join her National Rally (RN) party.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-is-emmanuel-macron-his-life-and-political-career-in-pictures-473486">Who is Emmanuel Macron? His life and political career in pictures</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As per the Interior Ministry website the election saw a turnout of just 71.9 per cent, which as per an AFP report is the lowest in any presidential election second-round run-off since 1969.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The results brought a sigh of relief to Europe, which had feared that a Le Pen presidency would leave the region adrift after Brexit and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's resignation from politics.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="it"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Francia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Francia</a> Presidente Draghi: “La vittoria da parte di <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> nelle elezioni presidenziali francesi è una splendida notizia per tutta l’Europa”<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/presidentielles2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#presidentielles2022</a></p>
— Palazzo_Chigi (@Palazzo_Chigi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Palazzo_Chigi/status/1518300545940873219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="de">Félicitations, herzliche Glückwünsche, lieber Präsident <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. Deine Wählerinnen und Wähler haben heute auch ein starkes Bekenntnis zu Europa gesendet.<br />
Ich freue mich, dass wir unsere gute Zusammenarbeit fortsetzen! <a href="https://t.co/ZJQSc6OAz9">pic.twitter.com/ZJQSc6OAz9</a></p>
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bundeskanzler/status/1518303883625480192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Chaleureux bravo cher <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a><br />
<br />
En cette période tourmentée, nous avons besoin d’une Europe solide et d’une France totalement engagée pour une Union européenne plus souveraine et plus stratégique.<br />
<br />
Nous pouvons compter sur la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/France?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#France</a> #5 ans de plus. <a href="https://t.co/JEPf6Pqght">pic.twitter.com/JEPf6Pqght</a></p>
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlesMichel/status/1518289840881680385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Cher <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>, toutes mes félicitations pour votre réélection à la présidence de la République.<br />
<br />
Je me réjouis de pouvoir continuer notre excellente coopération.<br />
<br />
Ensemble, nous ferons avancer la France et l’Europe.</p>
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1518292235632132101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The people have spoken. French President Emmanuel Macron defeated his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in the tense run-off election on Sunday. His win makes Macron the first French President to win a second term in two decades, however, the far-right was closer than ever.

The people have spoken. French President Emmanuel Macron defeated his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in the tense run-off election on Sunday. His win makes Macron the first French President to win a second term in two decades, however, the far-right was closer than ever. The margin between the two candidates, while enough to secure a comfortable win, is narrower than in the 2017 polls. As per France’s Ministry of Interior website, Macron received 58.5 per cent, with 18.8 million votes, while Le Pen stood at 41.5 per cent with 13.3 million votes. In the 2017 polls, the two candidates stood at 66.1 per cent with 20.7 million votes and 33.9 per cent with 10.6 million votes. Also read | French Presidential Election 2022: EU chiefs, Italy PM congratulate Macron on re-election after projections Meanwhile, 6.35 per cent of voters cast blank ballots in the election, voting for neither candidate. Social divisions out in open Needless to say, the fresh election results point to a divided France. Even as Macron successfully prevented a political earthquake had his rival won, the results speak of dissatisfaction among people. Acknowledging this, the French president said he would seek to make amends. Taking to Twitter, he said, “To those who voted for me, not to support my ideas but to block those of the extreme right, your vote obliges me. This evening, I am no longer the candidate of one camp, but the President of all.” À celles et ceux qui ont voté pour moi, non pour soutenir mes idées mais pour faire barrage à celles de l’extrême droite, votre vote m’oblige. Ce soir, je ne suis plus le candidat d’un camp, mais le Président de toutes et tous. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 24, 2022 × As for Le Pen, this is her third defeat in the country’s presidential race, having previously contested in 2012 and 2017. Undoubtedly this would be a bitter pill to swallow, with all her attempts to soften her image, distancing herself and the party from the legacy of the party founder, her father Jean-Marie Le Pen. Watch | What factors lead to a low voter turnout in France? However, Le Pen hailed her score as a “brilliant victory” and promised to “carry on” her political career, vowing that she would never abandon the French. "The ideas we represent have reached new heights... this result itself represents a brilliant victory," she told a crowd of supporters. Allocution de Marine Le Pen https://t.co/K6zT7FFfiw — Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) April 24, 2022 × Joining other challengers that faced defeat in the first phase of elections, she called for a new effort to hinder Macron's second term at the June Parliamentary polls. "This evening, we launch the great battle for the legislative elections," Le Pen declared, expressing "hope" and encouraging opponents of the president to join her National Rally (RN) party. Also read | Who is Emmanuel Macron? His life and political career in pictures As per the Interior Ministry website the election saw a turnout of just 71.9 per cent, which as per an AFP report is the lowest in any presidential election second-round run-off since 1969. The results brought a sigh of relief to Europe, which had feared that a Le Pen presidency would leave the region adrift after Brexit and German Chancellor Angela Merkel's resignation from politics. #Francia Presidente Draghi: “La vittoria da parte di @EmmanuelMacron nelle elezioni presidenziali francesi è una splendida notizia per tutta l’Europa”#presidentielles2022 — Palazzo_Chigi (@Palazzo_Chigi) April 24, 2022 × Félicitations, herzliche Glückwünsche, lieber Präsident @EmmanuelMacron. Deine Wählerinnen und Wähler haben heute auch ein starkes Bekenntnis zu Europa gesendet. Ich freue mich, dass wir unsere gute Zusammenarbeit fortsetzen! pic.twitter.com/ZJQSc6OAz9 — Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) April 24, 2022 × Chaleureux bravo cher @EmmanuelMacron En cette période tourmentée, nous avons besoin d’une Europe solide et d’une France totalement engagée pour une Union européenne plus souveraine et plus stratégique. Nous pouvons compter sur la #France #5 ans de plus. pic.twitter.com/JEPf6Pqght — Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) April 24, 2022 × Cher @EmmanuelMacron, toutes mes félicitations pour votre réélection à la présidence de la République. Je me réjouis de pouvoir continuer notre excellente coopération. Ensemble, nous ferons avancer la France et l’Europe. — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 24, 2022 × (With inputs from agencies)

French Presidential Election 2022: Macron wins second term by a smaller margin amid lower turnout

<p>World leaders hurried to congratulate France's centrist President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and victory over far-right leader Marine Le Pen in Sunday's elections.</p>

<p>Macron's win makes him the first French President to win re-election in two decades.</p>

<p>According to the website of the French Ministry of&nbsp;Interior, Macron received 58.5 per cent of the vote, or 18.8 million votes, while Le Pen received 41.5 per cent of the vote or 13.3 million votes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Let's check out the wishes:</p>

<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and defeat of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, said the Kremlin, as tensions remain over the Ukraine conflict.</p>

<p>"I sincerely wish you success in your state activities, as well as good health and well-being," Putin said in a telegram to Macron, according to a statement from the Kremlin.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> on his re-election. France is our oldest ally and a key partner in addressing global challenges. I look forward to our continued close cooperation — including on supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, and countering climate change.</p>
— President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1518361861661544448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations President <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> on your historic re-election. When I was in Paris, we discussed our long-standing alliance and our shared interests all around the world. The U.S. looks forward to continuing to deepen this valuable relationship with France.</p>
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1518400243397799936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to my friend <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> on being re-elected as the President of France! I look forward to continue working together to deepen the India-France Strategic Partnership.</p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1518418251323420673?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations, <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. Looking forward to continuing our work together on the issues that matter most to people in Canada and France – from defending democracy, to fighting climate change, to creating good jobs and economic growth for the middle class. <a href="https://t.co/RHTBH4dn19">pic.twitter.com/RHTBH4dn19</a></p>
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau/status/1518310515583463424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. We look forward to continuing close cooperation with France on global challenges, underpinning our long and enduring Alliance and friendship. <a href="https://t.co/sdy2qVN97N">https://t.co/sdy2qVN97N</a></p>
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1518364745400733698?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="it"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Francia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Francia</a> Presidente Draghi: “La vittoria da parte di <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> nelle elezioni presidenziali francesi è una splendida notizia per tutta l’Europa”<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/presidentielles2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#presidentielles2022</a></p>
— Palazzo_Chigi (@Palazzo_Chigi) <a href="https://twitter.com/Palazzo_Chigi/status/1518300545940873219?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="de">Félicitations, herzliche Glückwünsche, lieber Präsident <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. Deine Wählerinnen und Wähler haben heute auch ein starkes Bekenntnis zu Europa gesendet.<br />
Ich freue mich, dass wir unsere gute Zusammenarbeit fortsetzen! <a href="https://t.co/ZJQSc6OAz9">pic.twitter.com/ZJQSc6OAz9</a></p>
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bundeskanzler/status/1518303883625480192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Chaleureux bravo cher <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a><br />
<br />
En cette période tourmentée, nous avons besoin d’une Europe solide et d’une France totalement engagée pour une Union européenne plus souveraine et plus stratégique.<br />
<br />
Nous pouvons compter sur la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/France?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#France</a> #5 ans de plus. <a href="https://t.co/JEPf6Pqght">pic.twitter.com/JEPf6Pqght</a></p>
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlesMichel/status/1518289840881680385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Cher <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>, toutes mes félicitations pour votre réélection à la présidence de la République.<br />
<br />
Je me réjouis de pouvoir continuer notre excellente coopération.<br />
<br />
Ensemble, nous ferons avancer la France et l’Europe.</p>
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1518292235632132101?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world.<br />
<br />
🇬🇧🇫🇷</p>
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1518298495773519873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Félicitations à <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>, un vrai ami de l’Ukraine, pour sa réélection! Je lui souhaite de nouveaux succès pour le bien du peuple 🇫🇷. J'apprécie son soutien et je suis convaincu que nous avançons ensemble vers de nouvelles victoires communes. Vers une Europe forte et unie!</p>
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1518346676582367236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations Emmanuel Macron on your re-election as President. Another great expression of liberal democracy in action in uncertain times. We wish you &amp; France every success, in particular your leadership in Europe and as an important partner to Australia in the Indo-Pacific.</p>
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ScottMorrisonMP/status/1518387617007833088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="es">Los ciudadanos han elegido una Francia comprometida con una UE libre, fuerte y justa.<br />
<br />
Gana la democracia. Gana Europa.<br />
<br />
Enhorabuena <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Presidentielles2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Presidentielles2022</a></p>
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) <a href="https://twitter.com/sanchezcastejon/status/1518302675879739395?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="nl">De Fransen hebben vandaag een belangrijke keuze gemaakt. Ze kozen voor zekerheid en voor de waarden van de Verlichting.<br />
<br />
Ik feliciteer <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> van harte met zijn herverkiezing. Laat ons samen werk maken van een sterk en verenigd Europa. <a href="https://t.co/ILtOcbfBat">pic.twitter.com/ILtOcbfBat</a></p>
— Alexander De Croo 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@alexanderdecroo) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexanderdecroo/status/1518289685658882052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Vives félicitations à <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> réélu Président de la République française 🇫🇷.<br />
<br />
Nous continuerons à compter sur son soutien — en France, en Europe et dans le monde — alors que les défis humanitaires et les crises des réfugiés deviennent chaque jour plus graves et complexes.</p>
— Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) <a href="https://twitter.com/FilippoGrandi/status/1518302032934936576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Félicitations, mon ami <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a>, à l'occasion de votre réélection à la présidence de la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/France?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#France</a>. J'ai hâte de poursuivre l'important partenariat entre 🇫🇷 et <a href="https://twitter.com/WHO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WHO</a> pour un monde plus sain, plus sûr et plus juste. <a href="https://t.co/8vYLErniKF">pic.twitter.com/8vYLErniKF</a></p>
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrTedros/status/1518315735554170880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> on your re-election as President of France.<br />
<br />
Your principled and dynamic leadership is important not only for France, but for Europe.<br />
<br />
I look forward to us continuing to work together on the challenges ahead. <a href="https://t.co/krXJx0Z8zK">pic.twitter.com/krXJx0Z8zK</a></p>
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichealMartinTD/status/1518302240624234497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Toutes mes félicitations à <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> pour sa réélection à la Présidence de la République française 🇫🇷 Nos pays sont étroitement liés – notamment par la plus grande communauté de Suisses et de Français de l'étranger. Je me réjouis de poursuivre notre bonne collaboration 🤝</p>
— Ignazio Cassis (@ignaziocassis) <a href="https://twitter.com/ignaziocassis/status/1518303722509680642?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Warmest congratulations to President <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> on tonight’s election results! Let’s continue our close cooperation – bilaterally and for a competitive, green and resilient European Union.</p>
— SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) <a href="https://twitter.com/SwedishPM/status/1518296050318159876?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Toute mes félicitations à <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> pour la réélection à la présidence de la République 🇫🇷. Je me réjouis de continuer et approfondir notre coopération en Europe, pour le climat, pour le progrès et pour la paix.</p>
— Jonas Gahr Støre (@jonasgahrstore) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonasgahrstore/status/1518307497689464836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="fr">Félicitations à <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> pour sa brillante réélection.<br />
Ensemble, nous continuerons à travailler au raffermissement des relations entre le <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gabon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gabon</a> et la <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/France?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#France</a>.<br />
Plus qu'un passé en commun, nos deux pays ont un <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/avenir?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#avenir</a> à construire.</p>
— Ali Bongo Ondimba (@PresidentABO) <a href="https://twitter.com/PresidentABO/status/1518298658067861511?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


World leaders hurried to congratulate France's centrist President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and victory over far-right leader Marine Le Pen in Sunday's elections.

World leaders hurried to congratulate France's centrist President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and victory over far-right leader Marine Le Pen in Sunday's elections. Macron's win makes him the first French President to win re-election in two decades. According to the website of the French Ministry of Interior, Macron received 58.5 per cent of the vote, or 18.8 million votes, while Le Pen received 41.5 per cent of the vote or 13.3 million votes. Let's check out the wishes: Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and defeat of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, said the Kremlin, as tensions remain over the Ukraine conflict. "I sincerely wish you success in your state activities, as well as good health and well-being," Putin said in a telegram to Macron, according to a statement from the Kremlin. Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on his re-election. France is our oldest ally and a key partner in addressing global challenges. I look forward to our continued close cooperation — including on supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, and countering climate change. — President Biden (@POTUS) April 24, 2022 × Congratulations President @EmmanuelMacron on your historic re-election. When I was in Paris, we discussed our long-standing alliance and our shared interests all around the world. The U.S. looks forward to continuing to deepen this valuable relationship with France. — Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) April 25, 2022 × Congratulations to my friend @EmmanuelMacron on being re-elected as the President of France! I look forward to continue working together to deepen the India-France Strategic Partnership. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 25, 2022 × Congratulations, @EmmanuelMacron. Looking forward to continuing our work together on the issues that matter most to people in Canada and France – from defending democracy, to fighting climate change, to creating good jobs and economic growth for the middle class. pic.twitter.com/RHTBH4dn19 — Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 24, 2022 × Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron. We look forward to continuing close cooperation with France on global challenges, underpinning our long and enduring Alliance and friendship. https://t.co/sdy2qVN97N — Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) April 24, 2022 × #Francia Presidente Draghi: “La vittoria da parte di @EmmanuelMacron nelle elezioni presidenziali francesi è una splendida notizia per tutta l’Europa”#presidentielles2022 — Palazzo_Chigi (@Palazzo_Chigi) April 24, 2022 × Félicitations, herzliche Glückwünsche, lieber Präsident @EmmanuelMacron. Deine Wählerinnen und Wähler haben heute auch ein starkes Bekenntnis zu Europa gesendet. Ich freue mich, dass wir unsere gute Zusammenarbeit fortsetzen! pic.twitter.com/ZJQSc6OAz9 — Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) April 24, 2022 × Chaleureux bravo cher @EmmanuelMacron En cette période tourmentée, nous avons besoin d’une Europe solide et d’une France totalement engagée pour une Union européenne plus souveraine et plus stratégique. Nous pouvons compter sur la #France #5 ans de plus. pic.twitter.com/JEPf6Pqght — Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) April 24, 2022 × Cher @EmmanuelMacron, toutes mes félicitations pour votre réélection à la présidence de la République. Je me réjouis de pouvoir continuer notre excellente coopération. Ensemble, nous ferons avancer la France et l’Europe. — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 24, 2022 × Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world. 🇬🇧🇫🇷 — Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 24, 2022 × Félicitations à @EmmanuelMacron, un vrai ami de l’Ukraine, pour sa réélection! Je lui souhaite de nouveaux succès pour le bien du peuple 🇫🇷. J'apprécie son soutien et je suis convaincu que nous avançons ensemble vers de nouvelles victoires communes. Vers une Europe forte et unie! — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2022 × Congratulations Emmanuel Macron on your re-election as President. Another great expression of liberal democracy in action in uncertain times. We wish you & France every success, in particular your leadership in Europe and as an important partner to Australia in the Indo-Pacific. — Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) April 25, 2022 × Los ciudadanos han elegido una Francia comprometida con una UE libre, fuerte y justa. Gana la democracia. Gana Europa. Enhorabuena @EmmanuelMacron. #Presidentielles2022 — Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 24, 2022 × De Fransen hebben vandaag een belangrijke keuze gemaakt. Ze kozen voor zekerheid en voor de waarden van de Verlichting. Ik feliciteer @EmmanuelMacron van harte met zijn herverkiezing. Laat ons samen werk maken van een sterk en verenigd Europa. pic.twitter.com/ILtOcbfBat — Alexander De Croo 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@alexanderdecroo) April 24, 2022 × Vives félicitations à @EmmanuelMacron réélu Président de la République française 🇫🇷. Nous continuerons à compter sur son soutien — en France, en Europe et dans le monde — alors que les défis humanitaires et les crises des réfugiés deviennent chaque jour plus graves et complexes. — Filippo Grandi (@FilippoGrandi) April 24, 2022 × Félicitations, mon ami @EmmanuelMacron, à l'occasion de votre réélection à la présidence de la #France. J'ai hâte de poursuivre l'important partenariat entre 🇫🇷 et @WHO pour un monde plus sain, plus sûr et plus juste. pic.twitter.com/8vYLErniKF — Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 24, 2022 × Congratulations @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. Your principled and dynamic leadership is important not only for France, but for Europe. I look forward to us continuing to work together on the challenges ahead. pic.twitter.com/krXJx0Z8zK — Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 24, 2022 × Toutes mes félicitations à @EmmanuelMacron pour sa réélection à la Présidence de la République française 🇫🇷 Nos pays sont étroitement liés – notamment par la plus grande communauté de Suisses et de Français de l'étranger. Je me réjouis de poursuivre notre bonne collaboration 🤝 — Ignazio Cassis (@ignaziocassis) April 24, 2022 × Warmest congratulations to President @EmmanuelMacron on tonight’s election results! Let’s continue our close cooperation – bilaterally and for a competitive, green and resilient European Union. — SwedishPM (@SwedishPM) April 24, 2022 × Toute mes félicitations à @EmmanuelMacron pour la réélection à la présidence de la République 🇫🇷. Je me réjouis de continuer et approfondir notre coopération en Europe, pour le climat, pour le progrès et pour la paix. — Jonas Gahr Støre (@jonasgahrstore) April 24, 2022 × Félicitations à @EmmanuelMacron pour sa brillante réélection. Ensemble, nous continuerons à travailler au raffermissement des relations entre le #Gabon et la #France. Plus qu'un passé en commun, nos deux pays ont un #avenir à construire. — Ali Bongo Ondimba (@PresidentABO) April 24, 2022 × (With inputs from agencies)

World leaders send their 'warmest congratulations' to Emmanuel Macron. Check out the wishes!

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World leaders send their 'warmest congratulations' to Emmanuel Macron. Check out the wishes!