Marine Le Pen's far-right party failed to win any region, while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist ruling party suffered another beating in the second round of regional elections on Sunday, which was once again marred by low turnout.

Following a string of poor poll results earlier this month, France's far-right candidates were once again firmly rejected, with other voters coming together to prevent a breakthrough.

The Ifop polling agency estimated that the far-right National Rally barely surpassed 20 per cent of the vote nationally, trailing both the mainstream right and the combined weight of green and leftist candidates.

National Party leader Marine Le Pen quickly conceded that her party had failed to win any of mainland France's 12 regions. She immediately started looking forward to next year's presidential vote, but her party's showing Sunday suggested that it remains anathema to many voters.

"This evening we have not won any region," said a disappointed Le Pen, blaming "unnatural alliances" between foes and saying that "mobilisation is the key" to victories in the future.

Most notably, polling agencies said the National Rally was roundly beaten in the southeast, in the region that had been seen as its best chance of securing a breakthrough victory in the balloting for regional councils. As in previous national and local elections, voters appeared to have come together to prevent a National Rally breakthrough.

Mainstream candidates crowed that they had delivered painful blows to the anti-immigration party. No region changed camps, with the mainstream right keeping the seven it had previously and the left still in control of the other five, according to polling agencies' projections.

On the mainstream right, Xavier Bertrand crowed that the National Rally wasn't only stopped in his region, the Hauts-de-France in the north, but we made it retreat greatly.

Failure of President Emmanuel Macron's LREM

The results confirmed the failure of Macron's LREM to put down local and regional roots despite controlling the presidency and lower house of parliament.

The Ifop projection said the LREM would garner just seven per cent of the votes nationwide, despite several ministers standing and Macron himself embarking on a nationwide tour that saw him at one point slapped by a member of the public.

The LREM's chief Stanislas Guerini admitted the elections marked a "disappointment for the presidential majority".

The results leave the right in charge of seven regions, the left with five and Corsican nationalists in the office on the Mediterranean island.

"Revenge for the parties of the 'ancient world'" commented Le Monde daily, while noting the success was "tarnished by a record abstention".

(With inputs from agencies)

Marine Le Pen's far-right party failed to win any region, while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist ruling party suffered another beating in the second round of regional elections on Sunday, which was once again marred by low turnout.

Marine Le Pen's far-right party failed to win any region, while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist ruling party suffered another beating in the second round of regional elections on Sunday, which was once again marred by low turnout. Following a string of poor poll results earlier this month, France's far-right candidates were once again firmly rejected, with other voters coming together to prevent a breakthrough. The Ifop polling agency estimated that the far-right National Rally barely surpassed 20 per cent of the vote nationally, trailing both the mainstream right and the combined weight of green and leftist candidates. National Party leader Marine Le Pen quickly conceded that her party had failed to win any of mainland France's 12 regions. She immediately started looking forward to next year's presidential vote, but her party's showing Sunday suggested that it remains anathema to many voters. "This evening we have not won any region," said a disappointed Le Pen, blaming "unnatural alliances" between foes and saying that "mobilisation is the key" to victories in the future. Most notably, polling agencies said the National Rally was roundly beaten in the southeast, in the region that had been seen as its best chance of securing a breakthrough victory in the balloting for regional councils. As in previous national and local elections, voters appeared to have come together to prevent a National Rally breakthrough. Mainstream candidates crowed that they had delivered painful blows to the anti-immigration party. No region changed camps, with the mainstream right keeping the seven it had previously and the left still in control of the other five, according to polling agencies' projections. On the mainstream right, Xavier Bertrand crowed that the National Rally wasn't only stopped in his region, the Hauts-de-France in the north, but we made it retreat greatly. Failure of President Emmanuel Macron's LREM The results confirmed the failure of Macron's LREM to put down local and regional roots despite controlling the presidency and lower house of parliament. The Ifop projection said the LREM would garner just seven per cent of the votes nationwide, despite several ministers standing and Macron himself embarking on a nationwide tour that saw him at one point slapped by a member of the public. The LREM's chief Stanislas Guerini admitted the elections marked a "disappointment for the presidential majority". The results leave the right in charge of seven regions, the left with five and Corsican nationalists in the office on the Mediterranean island. "Revenge for the parties of the 'ancient world'" commented Le Monde daily, while noting the success was "tarnished by a record abstention". (With inputs from agencies)

France regional elections: Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron suffer humiliating results

France's far-right led by Marine Le Pen was headed for a defeat as per exit polls. The far-right was projected to suffer defeat in all region. The ruling centrist party of French President Emmanuel Macron was on way to suffer drubbing as well&nbsp;in the second round. The voter turnout for the second round has been low.

Macron's ruling party could not break into double figures nationwide while the National Rally (RN) of Le Pen could not realise its main ambition of winning the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PACA) region that includes Marseille and Nice, according to the estimates by polling organisations broadcast by French television.&nbsp;

The region was seen as Le Pen's best chance to bring credibility to her claims that her party is fit to be in power ahead of next year's presidential election.

An exit poll by IFOP showed the far-right winning 44.2% of the run-off vote in PACA compared to 55.8% for the mainstream conservatives. A second survey by Opinionway showed the far-right taking 45% of the vote compared to 55% for its rivals.

In another key battleground in Sunday's regional elections, the northern Hauts-de-France region, exit polls showed the centre-right ticket headed by conservative Xavier Bertrand, another contender for the 2022 presidential vote, headed for a comfortable victory over the far-right.

If the projections are confirmed, they will raise questions over how successful Le Pen's strategy of softening the image of her anti-immigration euro-sceptic party to try to eat into the traditional right's vote has been.

Even so, analysts say the apparent failure of Le Pen and her party to win in two of its strongholds should not be extrapolated on to next year's presidential election.

Voter turnout in the country's 13 regions was very low and voters typically have little affinity with their regional administrations that are responsible for promoting economic development, transport and high schools.

(With inputs from agencies)

France's far-right led by Marine Le Pen was headed for a defeat as per exit polls. The far-right was projected to suffer defeat in all region. The ruling centrist party of French President Emmanuel Macron was on way to suffer drubbing as well in the second round.

France's far-right led by Marine Le Pen was headed for a defeat as per exit polls. The far-right was projected to suffer defeat in all region. The ruling centrist party of French President Emmanuel Macron was on way to suffer drubbing as well in the second round. The voter turnout for the second round has been low. Macron's ruling party could not break into double figures nationwide while the National Rally (RN) of Le Pen could not realise its main ambition of winning the Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (PACA) region that includes Marseille and Nice, according to the estimates by polling organisations broadcast by French television. The region was seen as Le Pen's best chance to bring credibility to her claims that her party is fit to be in power ahead of next year's presidential election. An exit poll by IFOP showed the far-right winning 44.2% of the run-off vote in PACA compared to 55.8% for the mainstream conservatives. A second survey by Opinionway showed the far-right taking 45% of the vote compared to 55% for its rivals. In another key battleground in Sunday's regional elections, the northern Hauts-de-France region, exit polls showed the centre-right ticket headed by conservative Xavier Bertrand, another contender for the 2022 presidential vote, headed for a comfortable victory over the far-right. If the projections are confirmed, they will raise questions over how successful Le Pen's strategy of softening the image of her anti-immigration euro-sceptic party to try to eat into the traditional right's vote has been. Even so, analysts say the apparent failure of Le Pen and her party to win in two of its strongholds should not be extrapolated on to next year's presidential election. Voter turnout in the country's 13 regions was very low and voters typically have little affinity with their regional administrations that are responsible for promoting economic development, transport and high schools. (With inputs from agencies)

French far-right headed for defeat in regional vote, say exit polls

From a liberal icon to a leader, who doesn't fit a particular political definition, French President Emmanuel Macron has come a long way. His recent policies have gained him an equal amount of followers and haters. &nbsp;

His brand of politics has broken shackles of the classic left-right division but this brand is going to face a serious challenge in the days to come. France is going to polls and centrist Macron is up against a far-right rival, who promises to do everything the French President does, just two times better. &nbsp;

Where does this leave Macron? What can he do to stay in power?&nbsp;

He is the youngest French leader since Napoleon. He was the blue-eyed boy of liberal politicians in 2017. A former banker, who was going to reboot the French economy and society. Some also said he was France's answer to US President Barack Obama but four years later, the analogy seems wrong as Macron is no Obama. Actually, he has refused to be trapped by political definitions. He's tackling climate change, fighting Islamic extremism and more. &nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-emmanuel-macrons-brand-of-politics-364137/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In reality, Macron has thrown the traditional rule book of politics out of the window. So far, all has gone according to plan but 2021 poses a peculiar challenge to his brand of politics as it is an election year. &nbsp;

France will go to polls in 14 months from now and centrist Macron's main challenger is Marine Le Pen, the 52-year-old leader of the far-right National Rally. She is currently polling neck to neck with Emmanuel Macron. The most recent poll shows Macron might get 24 per cent of the votes in the first round, while Le Pen could secure more than 26 per cent.&nbsp;

The French Finance Minister says Le Pen could very well win the next presidential polls. This possibility can be explained by Le Pen's brand of politics. If Macron wants to align Islam with French values, Le Pen is not afraid to blame Muslims for all of France's ills. &nbsp;

If Macron wants to keep foreign influence on Muslims under check, Le Pen wants France to put an end to its multi-culturalism. The challenge is significant.&nbsp;

The race is unpredictable as there's a raging pandemic in France, growing resentment against Islam, the return of a political debate on immigration and a highly polarised electorate. &nbsp;

Macron's recent policies have been game-changing but they may have also cost him some of his traditional left-leaning support base. Macron is on politically tricky terrain and he will have to get the balance right and the anti-extremism bill will be his toughest political test.&nbsp;

From a liberal icon to a leader, who doesn't fit a particular political definition, French President Emmanuel Macron has come a long way. His recent policies have gained him an equal amount of followers and haters.

From a liberal icon to a leader, who doesn't fit a particular political definition, French President Emmanuel Macron has come a long way. His recent policies have gained him an equal amount of followers and haters. His brand of politics has broken shackles of the classic left-right division but this brand is going to face a serious challenge in the days to come. France is going to polls and centrist Macron is up against a far-right rival, who promises to do everything the French President does, just two times better. Where does this leave Macron? What can he do to stay in power? He is the youngest French leader since Napoleon. He was the blue-eyed boy of liberal politicians in 2017. A former banker, who was going to reboot the French economy and society. Some also said he was France's answer to US President Barack Obama but four years later, the analogy seems wrong as Macron is no Obama. Actually, he has refused to be trapped by political definitions. He's tackling climate change, fighting Islamic extremism and more. In reality, Macron has thrown the traditional rule book of politics out of the window. So far, all has gone according to plan but 2021 poses a peculiar challenge to his brand of politics as it is an election year. France will go to polls in 14 months from now and centrist Macron's main challenger is Marine Le Pen, the 52-year-old leader of the far-right National Rally. She is currently polling neck to neck with Emmanuel Macron. The most recent poll shows Macron might get 24 per cent of the votes in the first round, while Le Pen could secure more than 26 per cent. The French Finance Minister says Le Pen could very well win the next presidential polls. This possibility can be explained by Le Pen's brand of politics. If Macron wants to align Islam with French values, Le Pen is not afraid to blame Muslims for all of France's ills. If Macron wants to keep foreign influence on Muslims under check, Le Pen wants France to put an end to its multi-culturalism. The challenge is significant. The race is unpredictable as there's a raging pandemic in France, growing resentment against Islam, the return of a political debate on immigration and a highly polarised electorate. Macron's recent policies have been game-changing but they may have also cost him some of his traditional left-leaning support base. Macron is on politically tricky terrain and he will have to get the balance right and the anti-extremism bill will be his toughest political test.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who has changed the DNA of French politics

Emmanuel Macron of France is known to be a secular and liberal leader who supports freedom of speech. One of the founding members of the united nations and also the leading member of G-7. But today's France will drastically change if Marine Le Pen becomes the chief in charge. Know why in this report.

Who is Marine Le Pen and how she becomes the potential challenger to Emmanuel Macron ?

Charged with breaking hate speech laws by tweeting pictures of Islamic State atrocities, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen goes on trial on Wednesday. She has slammed the case as a violation of free speech.&nbsp;

The trial comes as opinion polls show Le Pen will likely face off again against Emmanuel Macron in next year's presidential contest, after her National Rally made its strongest showing ever in the 2017 vote.&nbsp;

Le Pen shared the gruesome images in December 2015, a few weeks after Islamic State group jihadists killed 130 people in Paris attacks, in response to a journalist, who drew a comparison between IS and her party.&nbsp;

One of the pictures showed the body of James Foley, an American journalist beheaded by the Islamist militants.&nbsp;

Another showed a man in an orange jumpsuit being run over by a tank, and the third a Jordanian pilot being burned alive in a cage.&nbsp;

"Daesh is this!" Le Pen wrote in a caption, using an Arabic acronym for IS.&nbsp;

Le Pen later deleted the picture of Foley after a request from his family, saying she had been unaware of his identity.&nbsp;

In 2018, a judge charged her as well as Gilbert Collard, a National Rally colleague, who also tweeted the pictures, with circulating "violent messages that incite terrorism or pornography or seriously harm human dignity" and that can be viewed by a minor.&nbsp;

A trial was ordered last year but was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

The crime is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($90,000).&nbsp;

Le Pen, a lawyer by training, has said she is the victim of a political witch-hunt -- she refused an order to undergo psychiatric tests as part of the inquiry.&nbsp;

She was also stripped of her parliamentary immunity over the pictures.

Charged with breaking hate speech laws by tweeting pictures of Islamic State atrocities, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen goes on trial on Wednesday. She has slammed the case as a violation of free speech.

Charged with breaking hate speech laws by tweeting pictures of Islamic State atrocities, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen goes on trial on Wednesday. She has slammed the case as a violation of free speech. The trial comes as opinion polls show Le Pen will likely face off again against Emmanuel Macron in next year's presidential contest, after her National Rally made its strongest showing ever in the 2017 vote. Le Pen shared the gruesome images in December 2015, a few weeks after Islamic State group jihadists killed 130 people in Paris attacks, in response to a journalist, who drew a comparison between IS and her party. One of the pictures showed the body of James Foley, an American journalist beheaded by the Islamist militants. Another showed a man in an orange jumpsuit being run over by a tank, and the third a Jordanian pilot being burned alive in a cage. "Daesh is this!" Le Pen wrote in a caption, using an Arabic acronym for IS. Le Pen later deleted the picture of Foley after a request from his family, saying she had been unaware of his identity. In 2018, a judge charged her as well as Gilbert Collard, a National Rally colleague, who also tweeted the pictures, with circulating "violent messages that incite terrorism or pornography or seriously harm human dignity" and that can be viewed by a minor. A trial was ordered last year but was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. The crime is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros ($90,000). Le Pen, a lawyer by training, has said she is the victim of a political witch-hunt -- she refused an order to undergo psychiatric tests as part of the inquiry. She was also stripped of her parliamentary immunity over the pictures.

French far-right leader Le Pen on trial for breaking hate speech laws

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen slams Macron and his government during the presentation of her counter-proposal to the antiseparatism bill. The president of the Rassemblement National party vows to ban the wearing of the veil and says the "Islamist offensive" is part of "a total war being waged against us".

France's Marine Le Pen proposes a ban on Muslim headscarf

An Afghan asylum seeker who killed a man and stabbed several others in the French city of Lyon sparked a row about immigration on Sunday as new details emerged about his rampage.

The 33-year-old killer stabbed a 19-year-old to death and injured eight others on Saturday afternoon in the Villeurbanne suburb of Lyon before he was cornered by locals and arrested by police.

French investigators are so far treating the stabbings with a knife and meat skewer as a criminal incident, rather than a terror attack, amid reports that the perpetrator was a drug addict.

Far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen led criticism of what she termed "the laxness of migration policy" in France which she said was "a serious threat to the safety of French people."

But the mayor of Villeurbanne, Jean-Paul Bret from the Socialist party, accused her and others on the right and far-right of "exploiting things politically."

"It's the classic reaction from the far-right which tries to turn a dramatic event to its advantage," he told the RTL radio station.

He also reminded Le Pen that offering asylum to people fleeing conflict in places such as Afghanistan was an international duty that France upheld.

The knifeman's rampage at a bus station in the northeast part of Lyon was stopped by a group of passersby and employees of the city transport network who succeeded in cornering him.

Sofiane, a 17-year-old from the area, told AFP on Sunday that the dead man was one of the first to try to reason with the knifeman.

He "stabbed him and then when he fell on the ground, he continued," Sofiane explained.

Mayor Bret paid tribute to the "courage" of local people who had helped avert further bloodshed, as well as to the police.

Prosecutors are set to give a press conference later on Sunday.

France has been the victim of a string of Islamist-inspired terror attacks since 2015 that have cost hundreds of lives.

An Afghan asylum seeker who killed a man and stabbed several others in the French city of Lyon sparked a row about immigration on Sunday as new details emerged about his rampage.

An Afghan asylum seeker who killed a man and stabbed several others in the French city of Lyon sparked a row about immigration on Sunday as new details emerged about his rampage. The 33-year-old killer stabbed a 19-year-old to death and injured eight others on Saturday afternoon in the Villeurbanne suburb of Lyon before he was cornered by locals and arrested by police. French investigators are so far treating the stabbings with a knife and meat skewer as a criminal incident, rather than a terror attack, amid reports that the perpetrator was a drug addict. Far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen led criticism of what she termed "the laxness of migration policy" in France which she said was "a serious threat to the safety of French people." But the mayor of Villeurbanne, Jean-Paul Bret from the Socialist party, accused her and others on the right and far-right of "exploiting things politically." "It's the classic reaction from the far-right which tries to turn a dramatic event to its advantage," he told the RTL radio station. He also reminded Le Pen that offering asylum to people fleeing conflict in places such as Afghanistan was an international duty that France upheld. The knifeman's rampage at a bus station in the northeast part of Lyon was stopped by a group of passersby and employees of the city transport network who succeeded in cornering him. Sofiane, a 17-year-old from the area, told AFP on Sunday that the dead man was one of the first to try to reason with the knifeman. He "stabbed him and then when he fell on the ground, he continued," Sofiane explained. Mayor Bret paid tribute to the "courage" of local people who had helped avert further bloodshed, as well as to the police. Prosecutors are set to give a press conference later on Sunday. France has been the victim of a string of Islamist-inspired terror attacks since 2015 that have cost hundreds of lives.

Afghanistan killer sparks far-right criticism in France

Hundreds of undocumented migrants surged into the Pantheon in central Paris on Friday, briefly occupying the vaunted memorial complex to demand talks with the prime minister on regularising their status, activists said.

Around 700 migrants and their supporters joined the demonstration, with some pushing into the historic complex at around midday (1100 GMT) on Friday, a member of the Chapelle Debout collective said. Footage posted on Twitter from inside the building's main dome showed hundreds of people waving papers in the air shouting "Black vests, black vests!" and "What do we want? Papers!"

The so-called "Black Vests" is a Paris-based migrant association that takes its name from the "yellow vest" anti-government protest movement.

As they went inside, tourists were evacuated from the Pantheon, which is the final resting place of France's greatest non-military luminaries including the writers Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Emile Zola.

Outside, hundreds more were gathered under the watchful eyes of a heavy police presence.&nbsp;

In a statement, the Black Vest protesters said they wanted "papers and housing for everyone", describing themselves as "the undocumented, the voiceless and the faceless of the French Republic".

"We don't want to negotiate with the interior minister and his officials any more, we want to talk to Prime Minister Edouard Philippe now!" they wrote.&nbsp;

They stayed there for several hours until they were calmly evacuated through a back entrance mid-afternoon, AFP correspondents said.&nbsp;

"All of the people who gained entry to the Pantheon have been evacuated," Philippe tweeted early evening as a police source said 37 arrests had been made.

'Rule of law'

"France is a country based on the rule of law which means respect for the rules that apply to the right to remain, respect for public monuments and for the memory they represent," he added.

Some leftist lawmakers came to the site to offer moral support to the migrants but Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, tweeted her indignation.

"It is UNACCEPTABLE to see protesting illegal aliens occupy, with wholesale impunity, this is the centre of the Republic," Le Pen said.

"Expulsion should be the immigrants' future -- that is the LAW," she said.

"The Pantheon is a symbol of great men. Inside there are symbols representing the fight against slavery. We are fighting against modern-day slavery," said Laurent, an activist from French rights group Droits Devant.&nbsp;

"Many people have been living without rights for years. We have done this to ask the prime minister for an exceptional regularisation. There has never been such a thing since (Francois) Mitterand took power" in 1981.&nbsp;

"It's about time we had one."

The "Black Vests" are known for staging headline-grabbing protests in support of the undocumented.&nbsp;

In June, they briefly occupied the headquarters of the Paris-based Elior Group which works in contract catering and property.And a month earlier, its activists occupied terminal 2F at the city's Charles De Gaulle airport against "Air France's collaboration" in the deportation of undocumented migrants.&nbsp;

Hundreds of undocumented migrants surged into the Pantheon in central Paris on Friday, briefly occupying the vaunted memorial complex to demand talks with the prime minister on regularising their status, activists said.

Hundreds of undocumented migrants surged into the Pantheon in central Paris on Friday, briefly occupying the vaunted memorial complex to demand talks with the prime minister on regularising their status, activists said. Around 700 migrants and their supporters joined the demonstration, with some pushing into the historic complex at around midday (1100 GMT) on Friday, a member of the Chapelle Debout collective said. Footage posted on Twitter from inside the building's main dome showed hundreds of people waving papers in the air shouting "Black vests, black vests!" and "What do we want? Papers!" The so-called "Black Vests" is a Paris-based migrant association that takes its name from the "yellow vest" anti-government protest movement. As they went inside, tourists were evacuated from the Pantheon, which is the final resting place of France's greatest non-military luminaries including the writers Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Emile Zola. Outside, hundreds more were gathered under the watchful eyes of a heavy police presence. In a statement, the Black Vest protesters said they wanted "papers and housing for everyone", describing themselves as "the undocumented, the voiceless and the faceless of the French Republic". "We don't want to negotiate with the interior minister and his officials any more, we want to talk to Prime Minister Edouard Philippe now!" they wrote. They stayed there for several hours until they were calmly evacuated through a back entrance mid-afternoon, AFP correspondents said. "All of the people who gained entry to the Pantheon have been evacuated," Philippe tweeted early evening as a police source said 37 arrests had been made. 'Rule of law' "France is a country based on the rule of law which means respect for the rules that apply to the right to remain, respect for public monuments and for the memory they represent," he added. Some leftist lawmakers came to the site to offer moral support to the migrants but Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, tweeted her indignation. "It is UNACCEPTABLE to see protesting illegal aliens occupy, with wholesale impunity, this is the centre of the Republic," Le Pen said. "Expulsion should be the immigrants' future -- that is the LAW," she said. "The Pantheon is a symbol of great men. Inside there are symbols representing the fight against slavery. We are fighting against modern-day slavery," said Laurent, an activist from French rights group Droits Devant. "Many people have been living without rights for years. We have done this to ask the prime minister for an exceptional regularisation. There has never been such a thing since (Francois) Mitterand took power" in 1981. "It's about time we had one." The "Black Vests" are known for staging headline-grabbing protests in support of the undocumented. In June, they briefly occupied the headquarters of the Paris-based Elior Group which works in contract catering and property.And a month earlier, its activists occupied terminal 2F at the city's Charles De Gaulle airport against "Air France's collaboration" in the deportation of undocumented migrants.

In Paris, hundreds of migrants occupy Paris landmark

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged US President Trump to "clarify his position" regarding the European Union, repeatedly the target of the US president's barbs.

"What is certain is that we have some ambiguities, especially when you look at Trump's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-no-deal-brexit-i-would-leave-eu-with-a-heavy-heart-jeremy-hunt-229982">position regarding Brexit</a>, and the fact that he promotes a hard Brexit," Macron told the New Yorker magazine an interview published Monday.

"I think he has to clarify his position vis-à-vis Europe," he said.

The interview was held against the backdrop of recent European elections in which Macron's centrist party, Republic on the Move, finished a close second to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally.

"What is new at the European scale is that the rise of extremism, especially coming from the far right, is everywhere," Macron said when asked about the outcome.

"A few months ago, a lot of people thought that this new coalition of the far right could have a majority or could block any majority at the European Parliament, which didn't happen," he said.

"This is, for me, one of the positive outcomes of these elections, even if they were very much helped by foreign influences."

Asked if he included Trump among those foreign influences, Macron said, "No, because I don't totally assimilate Trump and Bannon."

Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist, has been actively attempting to form a nationalist alliance in Europe, and Macron recently accused him of seeking "the dismantlement of Europe."

In an interview with NBC that aired over the weekend, the US president was asked about European efforts to keep alive the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran that Trump pulled the US out of last year.

"I don't care about the Europeans," Trump said. "The Europeans are going out and making a lot of money. The Europeans are fine."

"And let me tell you, we're very good to Europe. We take care of them. NATO, we spend a tremendous amount, a disproportionate amount. On trade, the European Union's taken, really, they have really taken advantage of us for a long time," he added. 
&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged US President Trump to "clarify his position" regarding the European Union, repeatedly the target of the US president's barbs.

French President Emmanuel Macron has urged US President Trump to "clarify his position" regarding the European Union, repeatedly the target of the US president's barbs. "What is certain is that we have some ambiguities, especially when you look at Trump's position regarding Brexit, and the fact that he promotes a hard Brexit," Macron told the New Yorker magazine an interview published Monday. "I think he has to clarify his position vis-à-vis Europe," he said. The interview was held against the backdrop of recent European elections in which Macron's centrist party, Republic on the Move, finished a close second to Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally. "What is new at the European scale is that the rise of extremism, especially coming from the far right, is everywhere," Macron said when asked about the outcome. "A few months ago, a lot of people thought that this new coalition of the far right could have a majority or could block any majority at the European Parliament, which didn't happen," he said. "This is, for me, one of the positive outcomes of these elections, even if they were very much helped by foreign influences." Asked if he included Trump among those foreign influences, Macron said, "No, because I don't totally assimilate Trump and Bannon." Steve Bannon, Trump's former chief strategist, has been actively attempting to form a nationalist alliance in Europe, and Macron recently accused him of seeking "the dismantlement of Europe." In an interview with NBC that aired over the weekend, the US president was asked about European efforts to keep alive the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran that Trump pulled the US out of last year. "I don't care about the Europeans," Trump said. "The Europeans are going out and making a lot of money. The Europeans are fine." "And let me tell you, we're very good to Europe. We take care of them. NATO, we spend a tremendous amount, a disproportionate amount. On trade, the European Union's taken, really, they have really taken advantage of us for a long time," he added.

Trump promotes hard Brexit, must clarify his position on Europe: Macron

The far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen finished top in European elections in France, final results showed Monday, dealing a symbolic blow, but not a knock-out punch, to pro-EU President Emmanuel Macron.

Le Pen's National Rally (RN) received 23.31 per cent of the vote, with Macron's centrist alliance trailing with 22.41 per cent.

The two groups will have the same number of seats in the European Parliament, 23, after Britain's expected departure from the EU.

Le Pen, who lost out to Macron in a bitter presidential contest in 2017, called for the head of state to dissolve the parliament and call new elections, a proposal that was immediately rejected by the government.

"It is up to the president of the republic to draw conclusions, he who put his presidential credit on the line in this vote in making it a referendum on his policies and even his personality," Le Pen said in a brief speech late Sunday.

But despite triumphalist comments from RN figures, the final results were a mixed picture for the 50-year-old Le Pen: her party ended up losing ground since European elections in 2014 when it finished top with 24.9 per cent.

In a first reaction after exit polls were released late on Sunday, an aide to Macron called them "respectable". Leading allies of the 41-year-old president sounded satisfied that the margin of defeat looked like it would be slender.

A second-place finish for the ruling Republic on the Move (LREM) party was a disappointment for Macron after he put his reputation on the line by campaigning, but it is a symbolic setback that aides said would have no bearing on his policies.

"The catastrophe that some people predicted for Macron has not taken place and the RN has a significant score, but not a spectacular one when you compare it to five years ago," analyst Zaki Laidi from the Cevipof political institute said.

'Time for action'

An aide to Macron, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said that there would be "no change of line" and that he would intensify his planned reforms which include tax cuts for the middle classes and controversial changes to the pension and unemployment benefits system.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the results confirmed the "redrawing" of French politics, which was evident in the presidential election in 2017 when France's traditional parties were eclipsed by Macron's new centrist movement and the far-right.

"The time is for action because the French people will judge us ultimately on one thing: results," Philippe said in a televised statement on Sunday.

He also said the government had "received a message about the ecological emergency" after France's main green party, EELV, looked set to finish third, with around 13 per cent of the vote compared with 8.9 per cent in 2014.

Macron had made no secret of the significance he attached to the results, telling regional French newspapers last week that the EU elections were the most important for four decades as the union faced an "existential threat".

He is a leading champion of further EU integration and is keen for further advances to link the economies, militaries and political systems of the bloc, which numbers 28 member states including Britain.

At home, the former investment banker started his five-year term as an energetic pro-business reformer intent on cutting unemployment and making France more entrepreneurial.

But for six months he has faced so-called "yellow vest" protesters who have blocked roads and demonstrated to denounce him as a "president of the rich" who has ignored the plight of the working poor and rural France.

Macron has since announced major tax cuts for the middle classes and a rise in the minimum wage.

Allies?

His influence and Le Pen's in the European Parliament will now depend on whether they can make alliances.

Le Pen has previously called for the formation of a "supergroup" of eurosceptic parties, but the hard-right ruling party in Poland -- PiS -- has shunned her because of her pro-Russian views, while Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban remains aloof.

"The gains for our allies in Europe and the emergence of new forces across the continent... open the way for the formation of a powerful group in the European Parliament," the RN's top campaigner, 23-year-old Jordan Bardella, told supporters on Sunday.

Macron meanwhile is in alliance with the ALDE centrist and liberal grouping which is seen as finishing third in the parliament behind the conservative PPE formation and the centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&amp;D).

But the French president, who redrew French politics in 2017, is still hoping to forge a new broader alliance of pro-European which would bring together so-called "progressives."

"At the European level, the president is still manoeuvring to form a large progressive alliance, a&nbsp;force that will be essential in the new parliament," an aide said on condition of anonymity.

The far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen finished top in European elections in France, final results showed Monday, dealing a symbolic blow, but not a knock-out punch, to pro-EU President Emmanuel Macron.

The far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen finished top in European elections in France, final results showed Monday, dealing a symbolic blow, but not a knock-out punch, to pro-EU President Emmanuel Macron. Le Pen's National Rally (RN) received 23.31 per cent of the vote, with Macron's centrist alliance trailing with 22.41 per cent. The two groups will have the same number of seats in the European Parliament, 23, after Britain's expected departure from the EU. Le Pen, who lost out to Macron in a bitter presidential contest in 2017, called for the head of state to dissolve the parliament and call new elections, a proposal that was immediately rejected by the government. "It is up to the president of the republic to draw conclusions, he who put his presidential credit on the line in this vote in making it a referendum on his policies and even his personality," Le Pen said in a brief speech late Sunday. But despite triumphalist comments from RN figures, the final results were a mixed picture for the 50-year-old Le Pen: her party ended up losing ground since European elections in 2014 when it finished top with 24.9 per cent. In a first reaction after exit polls were released late on Sunday, an aide to Macron called them "respectable". Leading allies of the 41-year-old president sounded satisfied that the margin of defeat looked like it would be slender. A second-place finish for the ruling Republic on the Move (LREM) party was a disappointment for Macron after he put his reputation on the line by campaigning, but it is a symbolic setback that aides said would have no bearing on his policies. "The catastrophe that some people predicted for Macron has not taken place and the RN has a significant score, but not a spectacular one when you compare it to five years ago," analyst Zaki Laidi from the Cevipof political institute said. 'Time for action' An aide to Macron, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said that there would be "no change of line" and that he would intensify his planned reforms which include tax cuts for the middle classes and controversial changes to the pension and unemployment benefits system. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the results confirmed the "redrawing" of French politics, which was evident in the presidential election in 2017 when France's traditional parties were eclipsed by Macron's new centrist movement and the far-right. "The time is for action because the French people will judge us ultimately on one thing: results," Philippe said in a televised statement on Sunday. He also said the government had "received a message about the ecological emergency" after France's main green party, EELV, looked set to finish third, with around 13 per cent of the vote compared with 8.9 per cent in 2014. Macron had made no secret of the significance he attached to the results, telling regional French newspapers last week that the EU elections were the most important for four decades as the union faced an "existential threat". He is a leading champion of further EU integration and is keen for further advances to link the economies, militaries and political systems of the bloc, which numbers 28 member states including Britain. At home, the former investment banker started his five-year term as an energetic pro-business reformer intent on cutting unemployment and making France more entrepreneurial. But for six months he has faced so-called "yellow vest" protesters who have blocked roads and demonstrated to denounce him as a "president of the rich" who has ignored the plight of the working poor and rural France. Macron has since announced major tax cuts for the middle classes and a rise in the minimum wage. Allies? His influence and Le Pen's in the European Parliament will now depend on whether they can make alliances. Le Pen has previously called for the formation of a "supergroup" of eurosceptic parties, but the hard-right ruling party in Poland -- PiS -- has shunned her because of her pro-Russian views, while Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban remains aloof. "The gains for our allies in Europe and the emergence of new forces across the continent... open the way for the formation of a powerful group in the European Parliament," the RN's top campaigner, 23-year-old Jordan Bardella, told supporters on Sunday. Macron meanwhile is in alliance with the ALDE centrist and liberal grouping which is seen as finishing third in the parliament behind the conservative PPE formation and the centre-left Socialists and Democrats (S&D). But the French president, who redrew French politics in 2017, is still hoping to forge a new broader alliance of pro-European which would bring together so-called "progressives." "At the European level, the president is still manoeuvring to form a large progressive alliance, a force that will be essential in the new parliament," an aide said on condition of anonymity.

Blow for President Emmanuel Macron as Le Pen tops European Union election in France

Pro-European&nbsp;parties&nbsp;kept a firm grip on the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;on Monday as liberal and green&nbsp;parties&nbsp;matched a&nbsp;surge&nbsp;by&nbsp;eurosceptic&nbsp;parties, who won control of a quarter of seats in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/green-wave-in-eu-vote-amid-climate-crisis-221921">European elections </a>for the first time.

The far-right and&nbsp;nationalists&nbsp;in Italy, Britain, France and Poland came out on top in their national votes on Sunday, shaking up politics at home but failing to dramatically alter the balance of&nbsp;pro-European power in&nbsp;EU&nbsp;assembly.

Facing a more hostile Russia, China's growing economic might and an unpredictable US President Donald Trump, many&nbsp;Europeans appeared to heed a message that the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;needed to stick together to&nbsp;protect workers' rights, free speech and democracy.

"We are going to build a social&nbsp;Europe, a&nbsp;Europe that&nbsp;protects," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-votes-in-second-round-local-regional-eu-polls-221755">Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez</a>, whose revival among Spanish voters offset a fall in centre-left support in Germany, told a news conference late on Sunday night.

Investor sentiment was bolstered by the smaller than expected gains by populist&nbsp;parties. However, the drop in support for the main centre-right and centre-left blocs could complicate policymaking and require broader cross-party agreements and discipline, market analysts said.

Provisional results published at 08:18 GMT on Monday showed the Socialists, Greens, liberals and conservatives with 507 of the 751 seats in the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;Parliament, which helps pass laws for more than 500 million&nbsp;Europeans.

The search for a majority, as well as securing the top&nbsp;EU&nbsp;jobs, will now dominate as&nbsp;pro-EU&nbsp;groups seek to shield the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;from anti-establishment forces, who want to break up the world's largest trading bloc but who are split over its future.

French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance platform added to gains for liberals at the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;level while support for the Greens&nbsp;surged, giving four groups the&nbsp;pro-middle ground and holding on to two-thirds of seats.

Macron and Sanchez were to meet later on Monday, the first in a series of meetings between&nbsp;EU&nbsp;leaders before they gather for a summit on Tuesday evening in Brussels to discuss the outcome of the&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;vote.

BREXIT, FAR-RIGHT&nbsp;PROTEST

A stronger voice for the liberals and Greens could see the next&nbsp;EU&nbsp;executive seek a tougher line on regulating polluting industries, taxing multinational companies or demanding trading partners help contain climate change.

They could also press&nbsp;EU&nbsp;member states, notably in the east, not to damage civil rights.

Cries of "Europe is back" among voters waving blue and gold&nbsp;EU&nbsp;flags outside&nbsp;European&nbsp;Parliament&nbsp;in Brussels on Sunday night also showed the ebullient mood among&nbsp;Europeans delighted with a sharply higher turnout across the bloc.

Turnout in the world's second-biggest election rose to 51% from 43% in 2014, its highest in 20 years and the first reverse of falling participation since the first direct&nbsp;EU&nbsp;vote in 1979.

Disenchantment with the&nbsp;European&nbsp;project, which has struggled through economic and migration crises over the past five years, has made the bloc seem distant to voters and anger with the traditional&nbsp;parties&nbsp;was palpable across the bloc.

Riding a wave of anger at the British government's failure to take the United Kingdom out of the&nbsp;European Union, Nigel Farage's Brexit Party won a resounding victory.

The result showed Britain even more polarised over its Brexit divorce, nearly three years since a 2016 referendum in which it voted 52% to 48% to leave.

While Britain's departure from the bloc will require its&nbsp;EU&nbsp;lawmakers to give up their seats, Farage's party and its allies won 29 seats, the same number as Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right&nbsp;European People's Party in Germany.

In Italy, the far-right League became Italy's largest party, giving greater authority to its leader Matteo Salvini who is pushing for swingeing tax cuts in defiance of&nbsp;EU&nbsp;budget rules.

Poland's&nbsp;eurosceptic ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) also came out ahead. In France, Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration, anti-Brussels National Rally edged Macron's&nbsp;pro-European centrist movement. Far-right separatists also saw support&nbsp;surge&nbsp;in Belgium.

FIGHT FOR&nbsp;EU&nbsp;POSTS

Provisional results for the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;Parliament&nbsp;put the EPP on 182 seats, ahead of the S&amp;D on 147, with the liberals on 109, up 41 seats, and Greens on 69, up 17. On the far-right, two groups in the&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;had well over 100 seats, a 40% jump from 2014.

Three existing&nbsp;eurosceptic groups, including those of Le Pen and Salvini's League, will make up about 25% of the chamber, up from around 20 per cent in the current&nbsp;parliament.

With four, rather than two, centrist alliances in the assembly, it is less clear who will be the next head of the Commission," Guntram Wolff, the director of think-tank Bruegel, told Reuters. "First the&nbsp;parliament&nbsp;needs a coalition agreement on substance and personalities," he said.

That agreement should include more humane immigration policies and tackling climate change, said Maria Nyman, secretary general of charity Caritas&nbsp;Europa.

Leaders for the four&nbsp;pro-EU&nbsp;centre&nbsp;parties&nbsp;were set to hold their first talks on Monday and there will be weeks and possibly months of hard bargaining over who will run&nbsp;EU institutions.

Parliament&nbsp;says one of its members should succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the executive&nbsp;European Commission but many national leaders, who will meet for dinner in Brussels on Tuesday, have said they will not be bound by that demand.

Pro-European parties kept a firm grip on the EU parliament on Monday as liberal and green parties matched a surge by eurosceptic parties, who won control of a quarter of seats in European elections for the first time.

Pro-European parties kept a firm grip on the EU parliament on Monday as liberal and green parties matched a surge by eurosceptic parties, who won control of a quarter of seats in European elections for the first time. The far-right and nationalists in Italy, Britain, France and Poland came out on top in their national votes on Sunday, shaking up politics at home but failing to dramatically alter the balance of pro-European power in EU assembly. Facing a more hostile Russia, China's growing economic might and an unpredictable US President Donald Trump, many Europeans appeared to heed a message that the EU needed to stick together to protect workers' rights, free speech and democracy. "We are going to build a social Europe, a Europe that protects," Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, whose revival among Spanish voters offset a fall in centre-left support in Germany, told a news conference late on Sunday night. Investor sentiment was bolstered by the smaller than expected gains by populist parties. However, the drop in support for the main centre-right and centre-left blocs could complicate policymaking and require broader cross-party agreements and discipline, market analysts said. Provisional results published at 08:18 GMT on Monday showed the Socialists, Greens, liberals and conservatives with 507 of the 751 seats in the EU Parliament, which helps pass laws for more than 500 million Europeans. The search for a majority, as well as securing the top EU jobs, will now dominate as pro-EU groups seek to shield the EU from anti-establishment forces, who want to break up the world's largest trading bloc but who are split over its future. French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance platform added to gains for liberals at the EU level while support for the Greens surged, giving four groups the pro-middle ground and holding on to two-thirds of seats. Macron and Sanchez were to meet later on Monday, the first in a series of meetings between EU leaders before they gather for a summit on Tuesday evening in Brussels to discuss the outcome of the parliament vote. BREXIT, FAR-RIGHT PROTEST A stronger voice for the liberals and Greens could see the next EU executive seek a tougher line on regulating polluting industries, taxing multinational companies or demanding trading partners help contain climate change. They could also press EU member states, notably in the east, not to damage civil rights. Cries of "Europe is back" among voters waving blue and gold EU flags outside European Parliament in Brussels on Sunday night also showed the ebullient mood among Europeans delighted with a sharply higher turnout across the bloc. Turnout in the world's second-biggest election rose to 51% from 43% in 2014, its highest in 20 years and the first reverse of falling participation since the first direct EU vote in 1979. Disenchantment with the European project, which has struggled through economic and migration crises over the past five years, has made the bloc seem distant to voters and anger with the traditional parties was palpable across the bloc. Riding a wave of anger at the British government's failure to take the United Kingdom out of the European Union, Nigel Farage's Brexit Party won a resounding victory. The result showed Britain even more polarised over its Brexit divorce, nearly three years since a 2016 referendum in which it voted 52% to 48% to leave. While Britain's departure from the bloc will require its EU lawmakers to give up their seats, Farage's party and its allies won 29 seats, the same number as Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right European People's Party in Germany. In Italy, the far-right League became Italy's largest party, giving greater authority to its leader Matteo Salvini who is pushing for swingeing tax cuts in defiance of EU budget rules. Poland's eurosceptic ruling Law and Justice party (PiS) also came out ahead. In France, Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration, anti-Brussels National Rally edged Macron's pro-European centrist movement. Far-right separatists also saw support surge in Belgium. FIGHT FOR EU POSTS Provisional results for the EU Parliament put the EPP on 182 seats, ahead of the S&D on 147, with the liberals on 109, up 41 seats, and Greens on 69, up 17. On the far-right, two groups in the parliament had well over 100 seats, a 40% jump from 2014. Three existing eurosceptic groups, including those of Le Pen and Salvini's League, will make up about 25% of the chamber, up from around 20 per cent in the current parliament. With four, rather than two, centrist alliances in the assembly, it is less clear who will be the next head of the Commission," Guntram Wolff, the director of think-tank Bruegel, told Reuters. "First the parliament needs a coalition agreement on substance and personalities," he said. That agreement should include more humane immigration policies and tackling climate change, said Maria Nyman, secretary general of charity Caritas Europa. Leaders for the four pro-EU centre parties were set to hold their first talks on Monday and there will be weeks and possibly months of hard bargaining over who will run EU institutions. Parliament says one of its members should succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the executive European Commission but many national leaders, who will meet for dinner in Brussels on Tuesday, have said they will not be bound by that demand.

Nationalists surge in EU Parliament, but pro-EU parties remain dominant

In the cobbled streets of Rennes, there is scant affection for Emmanuel Macron among the voters who propelled France's mould-breaking president to power, though hopes for a socialist revival in this bastion of left-wing support are muted.

Nearly nine in every ten voters here backed Macron in his run-off race against Marine Le Pen a year ago, but most did so to keep a far-right populist leader out of the Elysee Palace rather than open the door to a former investment banker promising to create jobs and improve workers' lives by rebooting the economy.

A year on, Macron, who pitched himself as 'neither of the left nor right', faces simmering discontent over economic policies perceived as favouring the wealthy, as well as accusations of a controlling leadership style and intolerance for dissent.

"He's too much of a neo-liberal for me," said administrator Herve Garnier, a longtime supporter of the centre-left Socialist Party who voted for Macron last May's second round.

"His government doesn't listen, it imposes what it wants. But you've got to listen to the street," the 50-year-added, a reference to the protests by public workers, students, pensioners and railworkers confronting Macron.

Macron has so far ignored voter anger and a precipitous decline in popularity, pressing ahead with policy to liberalise the heavily-regulated economy and confronting head-on labour unions and other vested interests he believes have choked growth in the past.

Some 58 percent of French consider his economic reforms "too radical", an Odoxa poll showed this week, but Macron says he will not be distracted from his chance to reshape France.

Unions complain Macron has eroded workers' rights to the benefit of big business, while left-wing opponents have dubbed him the "president of the rich".

"You can hope some bankers will be human beings. Now we realise he's shown his true colours, he's a true banker," said retired history teacher Luis Guasco, a supporter of the far-left France Unbowed party.

Guasco is bitter about Macron's move to increase a tax on pensioners while scrapping a wealth tax, and the lack of debate in a parliament where Macron's Republic on the Move party holds a commanding majority.

"It's a sham democracy," he said.

Political earthquake

Macron's stunning sweep to power all but wiped the traditional parties off the French political landscape. Twelve months on both the Socialist Party and centre-right party The Republicans are still searching for a response.

"For now there is no opposition in the making, quite simply because there is no credible alternative project. It's either chaos with the National Front and France Unbowed, or a complete lack of ideas," said Laurent Bigorgne, director of the Institut Montaigne think-tank.

An Elabe opinion poll this week showed almost half of all respondents saw no credible opposition to Macron. Just 4 percent considered the Socialist Party as a real opposition force, underscoring the scale of the former ruling party's demise.

Macron and his party have, however, discovered early on that enacting broad social and economic reforms without a traditional power base can have its price, losing two by-elections in February.

Analysts say the Socialist Party will need to rebuild from local power bases in cities like Rennes, nearby Nantes and the northeast industrial city of Lille, where the party still holds control of the town halls.

"The socialists were hounded out on a national level, now they will hope to re-enter on the local stage," said Pascal Perrineau, a political science professor at Sciences Po.

Municipal elections and then regional votes in 2020 will be a test of both Macron's ability to extend his barely two-year old political movement into local communes and departments and of the mainstream parties ability to recover.

"If Macron's movement at the national level doesn't connect with grassroot-level politics then it will be a fragile force," Perrineau said.

In the cobbled streets of Rennes, there is scant affection for Emmanuel Macron among the voters who propelled France's mould-breaking president to power, though hopes for a socialist revival in this bastion of left-wing support are muted

In the cobbled streets of Rennes, there is scant affection for Emmanuel Macron among the voters who propelled France's mould-breaking president to power, though hopes for a socialist revival in this bastion of left-wing support are muted. Nearly nine in every ten voters here backed Macron in his run-off race against Marine Le Pen a year ago, but most did so to keep a far-right populist leader out of the Elysee Palace rather than open the door to a former investment banker promising to create jobs and improve workers' lives by rebooting the economy. A year on, Macron, who pitched himself as 'neither of the left nor right', faces simmering discontent over economic policies perceived as favouring the wealthy, as well as accusations of a controlling leadership style and intolerance for dissent. "He's too much of a neo-liberal for me," said administrator Herve Garnier, a longtime supporter of the centre-left Socialist Party who voted for Macron last May's second round. "His government doesn't listen, it imposes what it wants. But you've got to listen to the street," the 50-year-added, a reference to the protests by public workers, students, pensioners and railworkers confronting Macron. Macron has so far ignored voter anger and a precipitous decline in popularity, pressing ahead with policy to liberalise the heavily-regulated economy and confronting head-on labour unions and other vested interests he believes have choked growth in the past. Some 58 percent of French consider his economic reforms "too radical", an Odoxa poll showed this week, but Macron says he will not be distracted from his chance to reshape France. Unions complain Macron has eroded workers' rights to the benefit of big business, while left-wing opponents have dubbed him the "president of the rich". "You can hope some bankers will be human beings. Now we realise he's shown his true colours, he's a true banker," said retired history teacher Luis Guasco, a supporter of the far-left France Unbowed party. Guasco is bitter about Macron's move to increase a tax on pensioners while scrapping a wealth tax, and the lack of debate in a parliament where Macron's Republic on the Move party holds a commanding majority. "It's a sham democracy," he said. Political earthquake Macron's stunning sweep to power all but wiped the traditional parties off the French political landscape. Twelve months on both the Socialist Party and centre-right party The Republicans are still searching for a response. "For now there is no opposition in the making, quite simply because there is no credible alternative project. It's either chaos with the National Front and France Unbowed, or a complete lack of ideas," said Laurent Bigorgne, director of the Institut Montaigne think-tank. An Elabe opinion poll this week showed almost half of all respondents saw no credible opposition to Macron. Just 4 percent considered the Socialist Party as a real opposition force, underscoring the scale of the former ruling party's demise. Macron and his party have, however, discovered early on that enacting broad social and economic reforms without a traditional power base can have its price, losing two by-elections in February. Analysts say the Socialist Party will need to rebuild from local power bases in cities like Rennes, nearby Nantes and the northeast industrial city of Lille, where the party still holds control of the town halls. "The socialists were hounded out on a national level, now they will hope to re-enter on the local stage," said Pascal Perrineau, a political science professor at Sciences Po. Municipal elections and then regional votes in 2020 will be a test of both Macron's ability to extend his barely two-year old political movement into local communes and departments and of the mainstream parties ability to recover. "If Macron's movement at the national level doesn't connect with grassroot-level politics then it will be a fragile force," Perrineau said.

Little love for France's Macron in longtime socialist stronghold

France’s lower house approved by a large majority on Sunday a bill that would tighten asylum rules after tense debates that created the first cracks within President Emmanuel Macron’s party.

One member of Macron’s party, Jean-Michel Clement, voted against the bill and said he would leave the majority.

“I am not sure we’re sending to world citizens the universal message that has always been ours,” the lawmaker said in a statement following the vote late on Sunday.

The French National Assembly voted in favour of the legislation by 228-139, with 24 abstaining. Debates are due to follow in the upper house, the Senate, in June. The National Assembly will have the last word on the bill.

A dozen lawmakers in the more than 300-seat majority have voiced concerns over the bill in recent days, not enough to defeat the government but the most serious sign of unease to date for Macron’s two-year-old political movement.

Embarrassingly for the government, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her fellow National Front lawmakers voted in favour of some of the bill’s articles.

Before the vote, Macron’s party whip, Richard Ferrand, had warned his members that although abstaining would only be considered a “venial sin” by party hierarchy, voting against the bill would constitute a “mortal sin.”

The legislation was criticized by human rights groups and leftist parties and represented a key test for the unity of Macron’s centrist party.

It doubles to 90 days the time in which illegal migrants can be detained, shortens deadlines to apply for asylum and makes the illegal crossing of borders an offence punishable by one year in jail and fines.

The government has said it wanted to be both firm and fair on immigration, which has been a major political issue since hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa started moving to Europe.

The bill would also make it easier for minors to get asylum and aims to halve the time it takes for authorities to process any asylum request.

The bill was passed 228 to 139, with 24 abstaining. One member of Macron’s party, Jean-Michel Clement, voted against the bill and said he would leave the majority

France’s lower house approved by a large majority on Sunday a bill that would tighten asylum rules after tense debates that created the first cracks within President Emmanuel Macron’s party. One member of Macron’s party, Jean-Michel Clement, voted against the bill and said he would leave the majority. “I am not sure we’re sending to world citizens the universal message that has always been ours,” the lawmaker said in a statement following the vote late on Sunday. The French National Assembly voted in favour of the legislation by 228-139, with 24 abstaining. Debates are due to follow in the upper house, the Senate, in June. The National Assembly will have the last word on the bill. A dozen lawmakers in the more than 300-seat majority have voiced concerns over the bill in recent days, not enough to defeat the government but the most serious sign of unease to date for Macron’s two-year-old political movement. Embarrassingly for the government, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her fellow National Front lawmakers voted in favour of some of the bill’s articles. Before the vote, Macron’s party whip, Richard Ferrand, had warned his members that although abstaining would only be considered a “venial sin” by party hierarchy, voting against the bill would constitute a “mortal sin.” The legislation was criticized by human rights groups and leftist parties and represented a key test for the unity of Macron’s centrist party. It doubles to 90 days the time in which illegal migrants can be detained, shortens deadlines to apply for asylum and makes the illegal crossing of borders an offence punishable by one year in jail and fines. The government has said it wanted to be both firm and fair on immigration, which has been a major political issue since hundreds of thousands of migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa started moving to Europe. The bill would also make it easier for minors to get asylum and aims to halve the time it takes for authorities to process any asylum request.

France's lower house passes, by large majority, bill to tighten asylum rules

French voters went back to the polls on Sunday for the first round of parliamentary elections that are tipped to give President Emmanuel Macron&#39;s centrist party a commanding majority.

Polling stations opened across France at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) and voting will continue in the largest cities until 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) with exit polls released immediately afterwards.

Macron has enjoyed a smooth start in the five weeks since he beat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen to become France&#39;s youngest-ever president, naming a cabinet that crosses left-right lines and making a big impression at international summits.

His untested Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move, REM) party, which he only founded in April 2016, now needs a clear majority in the National Assembly for him to push through the reforms he has promised.

A host of opinion polls show Macron&#39;s party taking around 30 per cent of the vote on Sunday, putting it in pole position to secure a landslide in the second round next Sunday.

Some predictions show REM could take around 400 seats in the 577-seat chamber. The party has already had a boost after its candidates came first in 10 of the 11 French overseas constituencies that voted before the mainland.

If no candidate wins over 50 per cent in the first round, the two top-placed go into the second round -- as well as any candidate who won the votes of over 12.5 per cent of the electorate.

More than 50,000 police will be on patrol in a country still under a state of emergency following a wave of attacks that have killed more than 230 people since 2015.

In the latest incident, which took place on Tuesday, a 40-year-old self-radicalised Algerian was shot and wounded after attacking a policeman with a hammer outside Paris&#39; Notre Dame cathedral.

&nbsp;

Breaking the mould&nbsp;

French voters have traditionally rallied behind their new leader in the legislative elections that follow the presidential ballot.

Macron&#39;s predecessors Francois Hollande in 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 and Jacques Chirac in 2002 all won outright majorities. Unlike Macron, however, they all came from long-established parties.

REM reflects the president&#39;s desire for a new brand of politics.&nbsp;

Initially dismissed by Macron&#39;s opponents as a movement of young activists without any real roots, it will field 530 candidates on Sunday.

In a bid to renew the political scene, many have never stood for office before, such as Marie Sara, a rare female bullfighter, who is taking on a senior member of Le Pen&#39;s National Front in southern France, Gilbert Collard.

&nbsp;

Cleaning up politics

Macron has banned all REM candidates from employing family members if elected and they must not perform consultancy work while lawmakers.

The edicts follow the scandal that sunk the presidential chances of Francois Fillon, candidate for the rightwing Republicans party, who is facing criminal charges for paying his wife Penelope more than 900,000 euros ($1.0 million) as his parliamentary assistant.&nbsp;

Fillon denies the charges.&nbsp;

Given Macron&#39;s attempts to clean up French politics, he faced embarrassment on Friday when his small centrist ally, the MoDem party, was placed under preliminary investigation on suspicion of employing fake parliamentary assistants at the European Parliament.

One of Macron&#39;s ministers, Richard Ferrand, is also being probed over a property deal involving his wife.

With the political tide turning against the main parties of left and right, they have warned that a landslide could be bad for democracy.

&quot;I don&#39;t think it would be healthy for the democratic debate over the next five years,&quot; said Francois Baroin, who is leading the Republicans as they try to bounce back from Fillon&#39;s failure in the presidential election.

The Socialists of former president Hollande fear heavy losses after a disastrous performance in the presidential election.

&nbsp;

Le Pen defiant

Le Pen&#39;s party meanwhile looks set to struggle to win 15 seats nationally, a score that would represent another deep disappointment after she was soundly beaten by Macron.

But Le Pen remains defiant, telling AFP this week that with other parties likely to agree to work with Macron, &quot;we will be the only opposition force&quot;.

Macron has appealed to voters to give him a strong mandate to overhaul the labour market whose rigid rules on hiring and firing are blamed by many economists for preventing growth.

The president was economy minister in the previous Socialist government that began introducing the reforms, sparking mass demonstrations in 2016 that lasted for months.

(AFP)

Some predictions show Macron's party could take around 400 seats in the 577-seat chamber

French voters went back to the polls on Sunday for the first round of parliamentary elections that are tipped to give President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party a commanding majority. Polling stations opened across France at 8:00 am (0600 GMT) and voting will continue in the largest cities until 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) with exit polls released immediately afterwards. Macron has enjoyed a smooth start in the five weeks since he beat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen to become France's youngest-ever president, naming a cabinet that crosses left-right lines and making a big impression at international summits. His untested Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move, REM) party, which he only founded in April 2016, now needs a clear majority in the National Assembly for him to push through the reforms he has promised. A host of opinion polls show Macron's party taking around 30 per cent of the vote on Sunday, putting it in pole position to secure a landslide in the second round next Sunday. Some predictions show REM could take around 400 seats in the 577-seat chamber. The party has already had a boost after its candidates came first in 10 of the 11 French overseas constituencies that voted before the mainland. If no candidate wins over 50 per cent in the first round, the two top-placed go into the second round -- as well as any candidate who won the votes of over 12.5 per cent of the electorate. More than 50,000 police will be on patrol in a country still under a state of emergency following a wave of attacks that have killed more than 230 people since 2015. In the latest incident, which took place on Tuesday, a 40-year-old self-radicalised Algerian was shot and wounded after attacking a policeman with a hammer outside Paris' Notre Dame cathedral. Breaking the mould French voters have traditionally rallied behind their new leader in the legislative elections that follow the presidential ballot. Macron's predecessors Francois Hollande in 2012, Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007 and Jacques Chirac in 2002 all won outright majorities. Unlike Macron, however, they all came from long-established parties. REM reflects the president's desire for a new brand of politics. Initially dismissed by Macron's opponents as a movement of young activists without any real roots, it will field 530 candidates on Sunday. In a bid to renew the political scene, many have never stood for office before, such as Marie Sara, a rare female bullfighter, who is taking on a senior member of Le Pen's National Front in southern France, Gilbert Collard. Cleaning up politics Macron has banned all REM candidates from employing family members if elected and they must not perform consultancy work while lawmakers. The edicts follow the scandal that sunk the presidential chances of Francois Fillon, candidate for the rightwing Republicans party, who is facing criminal charges for paying his wife Penelope more than 900,000 euros ($1.0 million) as his parliamentary assistant. Fillon denies the charges. Given Macron's attempts to clean up French politics, he faced embarrassment on Friday when his small centrist ally, the MoDem party, was placed under preliminary investigation on suspicion of employing fake parliamentary assistants at the European Parliament. One of Macron's ministers, Richard Ferrand, is also being probed over a property deal involving his wife. With the political tide turning against the main parties of left and right, they have warned that a landslide could be bad for democracy. "I don't think it would be healthy for the democratic debate over the next five years," said Francois Baroin, who is leading the Republicans as they try to bounce back from Fillon's failure in the presidential election. The Socialists of former president Hollande fear heavy losses after a disastrous performance in the presidential election. Le Pen defiant Le Pen's party meanwhile looks set to struggle to win 15 seats nationally, a score that would represent another deep disappointment after she was soundly beaten by Macron. But Le Pen remains defiant, telling AFP this week that with other parties likely to agree to work with Macron, "we will be the only opposition force". Macron has appealed to voters to give him a strong mandate to overhaul the labour market whose rigid rules on hiring and firing are blamed by many economists for preventing growth. The president was economy minister in the previous Socialist government that began introducing the reforms, sparking mass demonstrations in 2016 that lasted for months. (AFP)

Macron seeks majority as France votes for new parliament

Defeated French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen claimed a &quot;historic, massive result&quot; for the far right in Sunday`s presidential run-off, despite being soundly beaten by centrist Emmanuel Macron.

But, she added, her National Front (FN) party needed to undergo a &quot;profound transformation&quot; in order to create a &quot;new political force.&quot;

Estimates based on partial results showed Macron winning 65-66.1 percent of the vote compared with 35-33.9 percent for Le Pen.

Le Pen said she had called Macron to wish him success.

&quot;I called Mr Macron to congratulate him on his election, and because I have the country`s higher interest at heart I wished him success faced with the huge challenges France is facing,&quot; she told supporters at a post-election FN gathering in Vincennes near Paris.

The 48-year-old nationalist said her score made the FN the country`s &quot;biggest opposition force&quot; and announced she would lead the FN into June general elections.

Le Pen said the contest against the pro-EU Macron had confirmed a new faultline &quot;between patriots and globalists&quot;.

But the FN would have to &quot;profoundly renew itself to be equal to this historic opportunity and the expectations expressed by the French in this second round,&quot; she warned.

&quot;I suggest we begin a profound transformation of our movement to create a new political force,&quot; she said, adding: &quot;I call on all patriots to join us.&quot;

(AFP)

The 48-year-old said the transformation was needed to create 'a new political force'

Defeated French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen claimed a "historic, massive result" for the far right in Sunday`s presidential run-off, despite being soundly beaten by centrist Emmanuel Macron. But, she added, her National Front (FN) party needed to undergo a "profound transformation" in order to create a "new political force." Estimates based on partial results showed Macron winning 65-66.1 percent of the vote compared with 35-33.9 percent for Le Pen. Le Pen said she had called Macron to wish him success. "I called Mr Macron to congratulate him on his election, and because I have the country`s higher interest at heart I wished him success faced with the huge challenges France is facing," she told supporters at a post-election FN gathering in Vincennes near Paris. The 48-year-old nationalist said her score made the FN the country`s "biggest opposition force" and announced she would lead the FN into June general elections. Le Pen said the contest against the pro-EU Macron had confirmed a new faultline "between patriots and globalists". But the FN would have to "profoundly renew itself to be equal to this historic opportunity and the expectations expressed by the French in this second round," she warned. "I suggest we begin a profound transformation of our movement to create a new political force," she said, adding: "I call on all patriots to join us." (AFP)

Le Pen: Party needs to undergo 'profound transformation'

Pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron promised Sunday to heal France&#39;s divisions after crushing far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a pivotal presidential election that has given him a large but fragile mandate for change.

At 39, the pro-EU former investment banker will become France&#39;s youngest-ever leader but faces a huge challenge to enact his programme while trying to unite a fractured and demoralised country.

&quot;I will fight with all my strength against the divisions that are undermining us,&quot; Macron said in a solemn address at his campaign headquarters.

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As the extent of his resounding victory sank in, Macron told a sea of jubilant supporters waving French flags outside the Louvre Museum in Paris: &quot;Tonight, France won.&quot;

Almost definitive results showed Macron winning 65.82 percent of the vote in the first ever election he has contested, far ahead of the nationalist Le Pen at 34.18 percent.

But in a sign of widespread voter disillusionment, one in three voters abstained or cast a blank ballot.

Western leaders largely hailed the result after the shock of Britain&#39;s vote to leave the EU and the election of Donald Trump in the United States.

Plea for unity 
Macron reached out to Le Pen&#39;s supporters in a plea for unity after a vicious election campaign that exposed deep economic and social divisions, as well as tensions provoked by identity and immigration.

&quot;They voted out of anger, distress and sometimes conviction. I respect them,&quot; he said. &quot;I will do everything I can over the next five years to ensure that people no longer have any reason to vote for extremes.&quot;

Macron walked on to the stage to the strains of &quot;Ode to Joy&quot;, the anthem of the beleaguered European Union that he has promised to help overcome the wounds of Britain&#39;s impending exit.

His 64-year-old wife Brigitte, who he wooed when she taught him drama at school, joined him on stage with her children and grandchildren.&nbsp;

&quot;He&#39;s a symbol of hope,&quot; said Jean-Luc Songtia, a 36-year-old driver. &quot;It&#39;s like Obama eight years ago. It&#39;s youth, it&#39;s hope.&quot;

Unknown three years ago, Macron is poised to become one of Europe&#39;s most powerful leaders, bringing with him a hugely ambitious agenda of political and economic reform for France and the EU.

The result will resonate worldwide and particularly in Brussels and Berlin where leaders will breathe a sigh of relief at the defeat of Le Pen&#39;s anti-EU, anti-globalisation programme.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s spokesman said it was a &quot;victory for a strong and united Europe&quot; and the two had a &quot;very warm&quot; telephone call after his victory was announced, Macron&#39;s team said.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said French voters had chosen a &quot;European future.&quot;

British Prime Minister Theresa May discussed Brexit with Macron in a call to congratulate him late Sunday, saying &quot;the UK wants a strong partnership with a secure and prosperous EU once we leave&quot;, her Downing Street office said.

Trump, whose beliefs are seen as radically different to Macron&#39;s, tweeted congratulations on a &quot;big win&quot; and said he looked forward to working with him.

The euro rallied to a six-month high against the dollar in Asian trade and other financial markets are expected to react positively.

&quot;It is a big victory for a part of the population -- and there are many of them -- who identify closely with Europe and a certain vision of globalisation,&quot; veteran political analyst Philippe Braud told AFP.

The French election had been widely watched as a test of how high a tide of right-wing nationalism would rise after Brexit and Trump.

Le Pen, 48, had portrayed the election as a contest between Macron and &quot;globalists&quot; -- those in favour of open trade, immigration and shared sovereignty -- and her &quot;patriotic&quot; vision of strong borders and national identities.

In a short speech to supporters, Le Pen claimed a &quot;historic, massive result&quot; and said she had called Macron to wish him &quot;success&quot; in tackling the country&#39;s challenges.

She said her National Front (FN) needed to undergo a &quot;profound transformation&quot; ahead of parliamentary elections in June. One of her aides said the party will change its name.

Major obstacles ahead 
Macron must tackle formidable challenges as he attempts to enact his domestic agenda of cutting state spending, easing labour laws, boosting education in deprived areas and extending new protections to the self-employed.

The philosophy and literature lover is inexperienced, has no political party and must fashion a working parliamentary majority after legislative elections next month.

His En Marche movement -- &quot;neither of the left, nor right&quot; -- has vowed to field candidates in all 577 constituencies, with half of them women and half of them newcomers to politics.

&quot;In order for us to act, we will need a majority in the National Assembly,&quot; En Marche secretary general Richard Ferrand told TF1 television, adding that only &quot;half of the journey&quot; had been completed.

Many analysts are sceptical about Macron&#39;s ability to win a majority with En Marche candidates alone, meaning he might have to form a coalition of lawmakers committed to his agenda.

Furthermore, his economic agenda, particularly plans to weaken labour regulations to fight stubbornly high unemployment, are likely to face fierce resistance from leftist opponents.

He also inherits a country still in a state of emergency following a string of Islamist-inspired attacks since 2015 that have killed more than 230 people.

His first ceremonial duty comes on Monday when he appears alongside outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande in Paris to commemorate the Nazi capitulation on May 8, 1945.

Rollercoaster 
Macron won after one of the most unpredictable elections in modern history marked by scandal, repeated surprises and a last-minute hacking attack on his campaign.

Hundreds of thousands of emails and documents stolen from his campaign were dumped online on Friday, leading the candidate to call it an attempt at &quot;democratic destabilisation.&quot;

The election saw voters eject establishment figures, including one-time conservative favourite Francois Fillon.

Unpopular Hollande was the first to bow to the rebellious mood in December as he became the first sitting president not to seek re-election in the French fifth republic, founded in 1958.

(AFP)

At 39, he becomes France's youngest-ever leader

Pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron promised Sunday to heal France's divisions after crushing far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a pivotal presidential election that has given him a large but fragile mandate for change. At 39, the pro-EU former investment banker will become France's youngest-ever leader but faces a huge challenge to enact his programme while trying to unite a fractured and demoralised country. "I will fight with all my strength against the divisions that are undermining us," Macron said in a solemn address at his campaign headquarters. 'I will fight with all my strength against the divisions that are undermining us,' Macron said in a solemn address at his campaign headquarters × As the extent of his resounding victory sank in, Macron told a sea of jubilant supporters waving French flags outside the Louvre Museum in Paris: "Tonight, France won." Almost definitive results showed Macron winning 65.82 percent of the vote in the first ever election he has contested, far ahead of the nationalist Le Pen at 34.18 percent. But in a sign of widespread voter disillusionment, one in three voters abstained or cast a blank ballot. Western leaders largely hailed the result after the shock of Britain's vote to leave the EU and the election of Donald Trump in the United States. Plea for unity Macron reached out to Le Pen's supporters in a plea for unity after a vicious election campaign that exposed deep economic and social divisions, as well as tensions provoked by identity and immigration. "They voted out of anger, distress and sometimes conviction. I respect them," he said. "I will do everything I can over the next five years to ensure that people no longer have any reason to vote for extremes." Macron walked on to the stage to the strains of "Ode to Joy", the anthem of the beleaguered European Union that he has promised to help overcome the wounds of Britain's impending exit. His 64-year-old wife Brigitte, who he wooed when she taught him drama at school, joined him on stage with her children and grandchildren. "He's a symbol of hope," said Jean-Luc Songtia, a 36-year-old driver. "It's like Obama eight years ago. It's youth, it's hope." Unknown three years ago, Macron is poised to become one of Europe's most powerful leaders, bringing with him a hugely ambitious agenda of political and economic reform for France and the EU. The result will resonate worldwide and particularly in Brussels and Berlin where leaders will breathe a sigh of relief at the defeat of Le Pen's anti-EU, anti-globalisation programme. German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said it was a "victory for a strong and united Europe" and the two had a "very warm" telephone call after his victory was announced, Macron's team said. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said French voters had chosen a "European future." British Prime Minister Theresa May discussed Brexit with Macron in a call to congratulate him late Sunday, saying "the UK wants a strong partnership with a secure and prosperous EU once we leave", her Downing Street office said. Trump, whose beliefs are seen as radically different to Macron's, tweeted congratulations on a "big win" and said he looked forward to working with him. The euro rallied to a six-month high against the dollar in Asian trade and other financial markets are expected to react positively. "It is a big victory for a part of the population -- and there are many of them -- who identify closely with Europe and a certain vision of globalisation," veteran political analyst Philippe Braud told AFP. The French election had been widely watched as a test of how high a tide of right-wing nationalism would rise after Brexit and Trump. Le Pen, 48, had portrayed the election as a contest between Macron and "globalists" -- those in favour of open trade, immigration and shared sovereignty -- and her "patriotic" vision of strong borders and national identities. In a short speech to supporters, Le Pen claimed a "historic, massive result" and said she had called Macron to wish him "success" in tackling the country's challenges. She said her National Front (FN) needed to undergo a "profound transformation" ahead of parliamentary elections in June. One of her aides said the party will change its name. Major obstacles ahead Macron must tackle formidable challenges as he attempts to enact his domestic agenda of cutting state spending, easing labour laws, boosting education in deprived areas and extending new protections to the self-employed. The philosophy and literature lover is inexperienced, has no political party and must fashion a working parliamentary majority after legislative elections next month. His En Marche movement -- "neither of the left, nor right" -- has vowed to field candidates in all 577 constituencies, with half of them women and half of them newcomers to politics. "In order for us to act, we will need a majority in the National Assembly," En Marche secretary general Richard Ferrand told TF1 television, adding that only "half of the journey" had been completed. Many analysts are sceptical about Macron's ability to win a majority with En Marche candidates alone, meaning he might have to form a coalition of lawmakers committed to his agenda. Furthermore, his economic agenda, particularly plans to weaken labour regulations to fight stubbornly high unemployment, are likely to face fierce resistance from leftist opponents. He also inherits a country still in a state of emergency following a string of Islamist-inspired attacks since 2015 that have killed more than 230 people. His first ceremonial duty comes on Monday when he appears alongside outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande in Paris to commemorate the Nazi capitulation on May 8, 1945. Rollercoaster Macron won after one of the most unpredictable elections in modern history marked by scandal, repeated surprises and a last-minute hacking attack on his campaign. Hundreds of thousands of emails and documents stolen from his campaign were dumped online on Friday, leading the candidate to call it an attempt at "democratic destabilisation." The election saw voters eject establishment figures, including one-time conservative favourite Francois Fillon. Unpopular Hollande was the first to bow to the rebellious mood in December as he became the first sitting president not to seek re-election in the French fifth republic, founded in 1958. (AFP)

Emmanuel Macron elected French President

In his first address after estimates indicated his victory in the French presidential elections on Sunday, pro-EU and centrist Emmanuel Macron said&nbsp;he would &quot;fight the divisions&quot; in the country.

39-year-old Macron&nbsp;stormed to victory, defeating his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in a run-off vote.

&quot;I have heard the anger, anxiety and doubts that a large number of you expressed,&quot; &nbsp;Macron said in a speech at his campaign headquarters in Paris, AFP reported.&nbsp;

&quot;I will fight with all my strength against the divisions that are undermining us,&quot; he added.

Set to be&nbsp;France&#39;s youngest-ever president, the former economy minister vowed to work to &quot;rebuild the link between Europe and its citizens.&quot;

&quot;A new page in our long history is opening this evening,&quot; the centrist independent said, adding his presidency would be one &quot;of hope and confidence regained&quot;.

&quot;France will be at the forefront of the fight against terrorism,&quot; he said.

Congratulations poured in from leaders around the world.&nbsp;

&quot;I called Emmanuel Macron this evening to warmly congratulate him on his election to the presidency,&quot; outgoing French President Francois Hollande was quoted as saying in a statement.

US president Donald Trump took to Twitter saying he is looking forward to working with Macron.

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Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France. I look very much forward to working with him!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/861300169438113793">May 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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British Prime Minister Theresa May said she looked forward to working with him on &quot;a wide range of shared priorities&quot;.

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I warmly congratulate <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron">@EmmanuelMacron</a> on his success and look forward to working with him on a wide range of shared priorities.
&mdash; Theresa May (@theresa_may) <a href="https://twitter.com/theresa_may/status/861301370367987713">May 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s spokesman said Macron&#39;s victory &quot;is a victory for a strong and united Europe and for French-German friendship.&quot;

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was happy that France chose a &quot;European future&quot;.

European Union &nbsp;Council President Donald Tusk also offered his congratulations and said that the French had chosen &quot;liberty, equality and fraternity&quot; and &quot;said no to the tyranny of fake news&quot;.&nbsp;

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for a &quot;stable&quot; and &quot;more integrated Europe&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron, new president of #France. Let us work in France and Spain for a stable, prosperous and more integrated Europe,&quot; Rajoy said in a tweet.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

'A new page in our long history is opening this evening,' the centrist independent said, adding his presidency would be one 'of hope and confidence regained'

In his first address after estimates indicated his victory in the French presidential elections on Sunday, pro-EU and centrist Emmanuel Macron said he would "fight the divisions" in the country. 39-year-old Macron stormed to victory, defeating his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in a run-off vote. "I have heard the anger, anxiety and doubts that a large number of you expressed," Macron said in a speech at his campaign headquarters in Paris, AFP reported. "I will fight with all my strength against the divisions that are undermining us," he added. Set to be France's youngest-ever president, the former economy minister vowed to work to "rebuild the link between Europe and its citizens." "A new page in our long history is opening this evening," the centrist independent said, adding his presidency would be one "of hope and confidence regained". "France will be at the forefront of the fight against terrorism," he said. Congratulations poured in from leaders around the world. "I called Emmanuel Macron this evening to warmly congratulate him on his election to the presidency," outgoing French President Francois Hollande was quoted as saying in a statement. US president Donald Trump took to Twitter saying he is looking forward to working with Macron. Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France. I look very much forward to working with him! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2017 × British Prime Minister Theresa May said she looked forward to working with him on "a wide range of shared priorities". I warmly congratulate @EmmanuelMacron on his success and look forward to working with him on a wide range of shared priorities. — Theresa May (@theresa_may) May 7, 2017 × German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman said Macron's victory "is a victory for a strong and united Europe and for French-German friendship." European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said he was happy that France chose a "European future". European Union Council President Donald Tusk also offered his congratulations and said that the French had chosen "liberty, equality and fraternity" and "said no to the tyranny of fake news". Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy called for a "stable" and "more integrated Europe". "Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron, new president of #France. Let us work in France and Spain for a stable, prosperous and more integrated Europe," Rajoy said in a tweet. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Macron vows to 'fight the divisions' in France

The two candidates vying to win France&#39;s presidency in the decisive run-off vote on Sunday could scarcely have more different visions of the nation and its place in the world.

Centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron is a 39-year-old former investment banker who embraces globalisation and the European Union.

His far-right rival Marine Le Pen, the scion of the family who founded the anti-immigration National Front (FN) party, champions France-first nationalism and proposes withdrawing from the eurozone.

&quot;I am the candidate of the people of France such as we love it, of the nation that protects jobs, security, our borders,&quot; 48-year-old Le Pen said in a brutal face-to-face TV debate that encapsulated the candidates&#39; differences.&nbsp;

Macron had a starkly different message: &quot;France is not a closed country. I am for a strong France, in an EU that offers it protection,&quot; he said.

His rise has been meteoric. He had never before stood for election but is now on the cusp of becoming France&#39;s youngest-ever president.

Despite his lack of political experience, polls currently suggest he should beat Le Pen by around 20 percentage points.

Sensed a gap

President Francois Hollande launched Macron&#39;s political career, picking the Rothschild banker as an economic advisor and then parachuting him into his Socialist government as economy minister.

Sensing a worldwide shift away from established parties, Macron quit the cabinet last August to concentrate on building his own centrist political movement &quot;En Marche&quot; (On the Move).

He has since attracted over 250,000 members and confounded early critics who said his appeal did not stretch beyond young, urban professionals.

Macron has also flouted convention in his personal life.

From a middle-class family in Amiens, northeast France, he fell for his drama teacher, Brigitte Trogneux, while he was at secondary school.

A 64-year-old mother-of-three, a quarter of a century older than Macron, she left her husband and married him in 2007.

The unshakeable confidence with which Macron pursued his future wife has been evident throughout his career.

But it nearly tripped him up after he finished first in the first round of the election when he gave what many saw as an overly triumphant speech and then threw a party at a Paris bistro.

Opponents and allies alike were quick to remind him that victory over Le Pen was not assured, and he threw himself into campaigning.

A potentially crucial moment came on April 26, when he was at risk of being upstaged by Le Pen at an under-threat Whirlpool dryer factory in Amiens.&nbsp;

After she made a lightning visit, he was forced to go too, plunging into a scrum of workers who initially booed him before he engaged with them for more than an hour.

In an 11th-hour twist to a campaign marked by drama, Macron&#39;s team said it was hit by a &quot;massive&quot; hacking attack after a flood of thousands of internal documents were released online late Friday.

In her blood

Unlike Macron, Le Pen had a front-row seat on the world of hard-edged politics from an early age.

Her pugnacious father Jean-Marie Le Pen reached the run-off of the 2002 presidential election but was soundly beaten by the centre-right Jacques Chirac.

Fifteen years later, his gravel-voiced daughter believes she can become France&#39;s first woman president and the first from the party that her father founded.

She has campaigned on the same nationalist and protectionist themes that carried Donald Trump to the White House and drove Britain&#39;s vote to leave the EU.

But in a bruising TV debate between the two rounds, her strategy of all-out attack on Macron appeared to backfire, as polls suggested viewers found him more convincing.

She goes into the run-off with several investigations hanging over the FN and her entourage for alleged funding scandals.

Le Pen has performed better than during the last presidential election in 2012 when she finished third with just under 18 percent. This time she scored more than 21 percent in the first round.

She has worked assiduously to try to rid the FN of its more extreme edge and make it a &quot;party of patriots&quot; -- and she kicked her father out after he repeatedly described Nazi gas chambers as a &quot;detail of history&quot;.

Now a twice-divorced mother of three, she guards her private life carefully.

She appears rarely as a couple with her current partner, the FN&#39;s vice-president Louis Aliot.

Le Pen developed her flair for sharp putdowns as a state-appointed lawyer defending illegal immigrants facing deportation.

Despite that experience, she blames migration -- and the European Union -- for France&#39;s economic woes.

(AFP)

Centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron is a 39-year-old former investment banker who embraces globalisation and the European Union

The two candidates vying to win France's presidency in the decisive run-off vote on Sunday could scarcely have more different visions of the nation and its place in the world. Centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron is a 39-year-old former investment banker who embraces globalisation and the European Union. His far-right rival Marine Le Pen, the scion of the family who founded the anti-immigration National Front (FN) party, champions France-first nationalism and proposes withdrawing from the eurozone. "I am the candidate of the people of France such as we love it, of the nation that protects jobs, security, our borders," 48-year-old Le Pen said in a brutal face-to-face TV debate that encapsulated the candidates' differences. Macron had a starkly different message: "France is not a closed country. I am for a strong France, in an EU that offers it protection," he said. His rise has been meteoric. He had never before stood for election but is now on the cusp of becoming France's youngest-ever president. Despite his lack of political experience, polls currently suggest he should beat Le Pen by around 20 percentage points. Sensed a gap President Francois Hollande launched Macron's political career, picking the Rothschild banker as an economic advisor and then parachuting him into his Socialist government as economy minister. Sensing a worldwide shift away from established parties, Macron quit the cabinet last August to concentrate on building his own centrist political movement "En Marche" (On the Move). He has since attracted over 250,000 members and confounded early critics who said his appeal did not stretch beyond young, urban professionals. Macron has also flouted convention in his personal life. From a middle-class family in Amiens, northeast France, he fell for his drama teacher, Brigitte Trogneux, while he was at secondary school. A 64-year-old mother-of-three, a quarter of a century older than Macron, she left her husband and married him in 2007. The unshakeable confidence with which Macron pursued his future wife has been evident throughout his career. But it nearly tripped him up after he finished first in the first round of the election when he gave what many saw as an overly triumphant speech and then threw a party at a Paris bistro. Opponents and allies alike were quick to remind him that victory over Le Pen was not assured, and he threw himself into campaigning. A potentially crucial moment came on April 26, when he was at risk of being upstaged by Le Pen at an under-threat Whirlpool dryer factory in Amiens. After she made a lightning visit, he was forced to go too, plunging into a scrum of workers who initially booed him before he engaged with them for more than an hour. In an 11th-hour twist to a campaign marked by drama, Macron's team said it was hit by a "massive" hacking attack after a flood of thousands of internal documents were released online late Friday. In her blood Unlike Macron, Le Pen had a front-row seat on the world of hard-edged politics from an early age. Her pugnacious father Jean-Marie Le Pen reached the run-off of the 2002 presidential election but was soundly beaten by the centre-right Jacques Chirac. Fifteen years later, his gravel-voiced daughter believes she can become France's first woman president and the first from the party that her father founded. She has campaigned on the same nationalist and protectionist themes that carried Donald Trump to the White House and drove Britain's vote to leave the EU. But in a bruising TV debate between the two rounds, her strategy of all-out attack on Macron appeared to backfire, as polls suggested viewers found him more convincing. She goes into the run-off with several investigations hanging over the FN and her entourage for alleged funding scandals. Le Pen has performed better than during the last presidential election in 2012 when she finished third with just under 18 percent. This time she scored more than 21 percent in the first round. She has worked assiduously to try to rid the FN of its more extreme edge and make it a "party of patriots" -- and she kicked her father out after he repeatedly described Nazi gas chambers as a "detail of history". Now a twice-divorced mother of three, she guards her private life carefully. She appears rarely as a couple with her current partner, the FN's vice-president Louis Aliot. Le Pen developed her flair for sharp putdowns as a state-appointed lawyer defending illegal immigrants facing deportation. Despite that experience, she blames migration -- and the European Union -- for France's economic woes. (AFP)

Macron, Le Pen: Clashing visions for France's future

Greenpeace climbers unfurled a banner emblazoned with the French republican slogan &quot;Liberty, Equality Fraternity&quot; and the word &quot;Resist&quot; on the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Friday, a message urging people to vote against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday`s presidential election.

&quot;We wanted to say we are against the rise of nationalism and authoritarianism in France and in other countries. This is our way of reminding everybody they all need to mobilise to defend these values of Liberty Equality and Fraternity,&quot; Jean-Francois Julliard, the advocacy group`s head in France, told public radio station francinfo.

Le Pen faces off against centrist Emmanuel Macron in the May 7 ballot. Macron is tipped in polls to win and become France`s president for the next five years. The Greenpeace action came on the last day of campaigning.

(Reuters)

Le Pen faces off against centrist Emmanuel Macron in the May 7 ballot

Greenpeace climbers unfurled a banner emblazoned with the French republican slogan "Liberty, Equality Fraternity" and the word "Resist" on the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Friday, a message urging people to vote against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday`s presidential election. "We wanted to say we are against the rise of nationalism and authoritarianism in France and in other countries. This is our way of reminding everybody they all need to mobilise to defend these values of Liberty Equality and Fraternity," Jean-Francois Julliard, the advocacy group`s head in France, told public radio station francinfo. Le Pen faces off against centrist Emmanuel Macron in the May 7 ballot. Macron is tipped in polls to win and become France`s president for the next five years. The Greenpeace action came on the last day of campaigning. (Reuters)

Greenpeace unfurls anti-Le Pen 'resist' banner on Eiffel Tower

French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen face off in a final televised debate on Wednesday which is expected to be bitter, personal and potentially decisive ahead of the run-off vote this weekend.

The stakes are high ahead of the contest between the pro-European Macron, a 39-year-old former investment banker, and far-right leader Le Pen, the 48-year-old scion of the National Front party.

Their starkly different views on Europe, immigration, the economy and French identity will be explored for the first time face-to-face, after a week marked by bruising clashes between them.

Polls show Macron holding a hefty but narrowing lead in the polls of 59 percent versus 41 percent, but previous debates during the rollercoaster French campaign have quickly shifted public opinion.

&quot;Our goal is to avoid being dragged into mud-slinging,&quot; an aide to Macron told AFP on condition of anonymity ahead of the two hours and 20 minutes of exchanges between the candidates.

Whatever the outcome, the event marks a new step into the mainstream for Le Pen, whose party was once considered by France&#39;s political establishment to be an extremist fringe of racists to be boycotted.

When her father Jean-Marie made it into the final round of the presidential election in 2002, his conservative opponent Jacques Chirac refused to debate him out of fear of &quot;normalising hate and intolerance&quot;.

Fifteen years later, Le Pen scored 21.3 percent in the first round of the French election on April 23 after successfully softening the FN&#39;s image -- but without fully removing doubt about the party&#39;s core beliefs.

She has consistently sought to paint her rival as the continuation of unpopular outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande and a champion of unbridled globalisation, the financial sector and immigration.

&quot;If he finds himself in difficulty, he can always ask Francois Hollande to come and hold his hand. I won&#39;t complain,&quot; Le Pen tweeted archly on Tuesday.

With Le Pen trailing in the polls, the face-off will be her biggest chance in front of a television audience to impress millions of views or induce an error by her opponent that could tilt Sunday&#39;s election in her favour.

Euro in spotlight&nbsp;

Macron, who was economy minister under Hollande, is expected to be wary of making mistakes but has signalled his intention to take on Le Pen and challenge what he calls her &quot;dangerous&quot; ideas for tackling the country&#39;s deep economic and social problems.

&quot;I want to go head-to-head, to get to the bottom of the issues, to show that these are false solutions,&quot; the independent centrist told BFM television Tuesday.

Recent uncertainty about Le Pen&#39;s stance on withdrawing France from the euro common currency could also give him an opportunity to target what is seen as a risky and unpopular policy by many voters.

&quot;Macron would do well to put maximum emphasis on the EU issue in the debate, especially the currency,&quot; veteran political analyst Philippe Braud told AFP. &quot;It&#39;s the issue that causes the most concern, especially for businesses. It&#39;s not for love of Europe.&quot;

&#39;Smokescreen&#39;&nbsp;

Le Pen said Sunday that a new franc would be introduced for daily use while the euro would be retained for &quot;large companies who trade internationally&quot;.

&quot;The franc to buy your baguette and the euro for multinationals... it&#39;s not so much backtracking but a smokescreen in the last days of the campaign,&quot; wrote journalist Jacques-Olivier Martin in the daily Le Figaro on Wednesday.

In the face of the attacks on Macron&#39;s background as a highly educated civil servant and banker, he is expected to emphasise his personal story as a self-made man born to two doctors in provincial Amiens.

&quot;I wasn&#39;t born in a chateau,&quot; he said this week, alluding to the Le Pen family mansion on the outskirts of Paris where Marine and her sisters were brought up.

Sparks flew when they faced each other in the presidential debates before the first round of voting, when Le Pen memorably accused Macron of waffling for seven minutes and saying nothing.

Macron said she was transforming France&#39;s millions of Muslims into &quot;enemies of the republic&quot;.

&quot;Everyone expects both of them to be on the offensive,&quot; said historian Christian Delporte. &quot;But Le Pen would be wrong to be too aggressive.&quot;

In the end, both candidates -- Macron because of his youth and the fact he has never held elected office, and Le Pen as an underdog formerly seen as a fringe extremist -- &quot;will need to come across as presidential&quot;, said Delporte, who specialises in political communication.

For both, the debate will be a chance to reach out to disgruntled voters -- a recent survey found that seven in 10 voters are unhappy with the choice before them.

(AFP)

Pro-European Macron, a 39-year-old former investment banker, and far-right leader Le Pen, the 48-year-old scion of the National Front party, are vying to be the next France president.

French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen face off in a final televised debate on Wednesday which is expected to be bitter, personal and potentially decisive ahead of the run-off vote this weekend. The stakes are high ahead of the contest between the pro-European Macron, a 39-year-old former investment banker, and far-right leader Le Pen, the 48-year-old scion of the National Front party. Their starkly different views on Europe, immigration, the economy and French identity will be explored for the first time face-to-face, after a week marked by bruising clashes between them. Polls show Macron holding a hefty but narrowing lead in the polls of 59 percent versus 41 percent, but previous debates during the rollercoaster French campaign have quickly shifted public opinion. "Our goal is to avoid being dragged into mud-slinging," an aide to Macron told AFP on condition of anonymity ahead of the two hours and 20 minutes of exchanges between the candidates. Whatever the outcome, the event marks a new step into the mainstream for Le Pen, whose party was once considered by France's political establishment to be an extremist fringe of racists to be boycotted. When her father Jean-Marie made it into the final round of the presidential election in 2002, his conservative opponent Jacques Chirac refused to debate him out of fear of "normalising hate and intolerance". Fifteen years later, Le Pen scored 21.3 percent in the first round of the French election on April 23 after successfully softening the FN's image -- but without fully removing doubt about the party's core beliefs. She has consistently sought to paint her rival as the continuation of unpopular outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande and a champion of unbridled globalisation, the financial sector and immigration. "If he finds himself in difficulty, he can always ask Francois Hollande to come and hold his hand. I won't complain," Le Pen tweeted archly on Tuesday. With Le Pen trailing in the polls, the face-off will be her biggest chance in front of a television audience to impress millions of views or induce an error by her opponent that could tilt Sunday's election in her favour. Euro in spotlight Macron, who was economy minister under Hollande, is expected to be wary of making mistakes but has signalled his intention to take on Le Pen and challenge what he calls her "dangerous" ideas for tackling the country's deep economic and social problems. "I want to go head-to-head, to get to the bottom of the issues, to show that these are false solutions," the independent centrist told BFM television Tuesday. Recent uncertainty about Le Pen's stance on withdrawing France from the euro common currency could also give him an opportunity to target what is seen as a risky and unpopular policy by many voters. "Macron would do well to put maximum emphasis on the EU issue in the debate, especially the currency," veteran political analyst Philippe Braud told AFP. "It's the issue that causes the most concern, especially for businesses. It's not for love of Europe." 'Smokescreen' Le Pen said Sunday that a new franc would be introduced for daily use while the euro would be retained for "large companies who trade internationally". "The franc to buy your baguette and the euro for multinationals... it's not so much backtracking but a smokescreen in the last days of the campaign," wrote journalist Jacques-Olivier Martin in the daily Le Figaro on Wednesday. In the face of the attacks on Macron's background as a highly educated civil servant and banker, he is expected to emphasise his personal story as a self-made man born to two doctors in provincial Amiens. "I wasn't born in a chateau," he said this week, alluding to the Le Pen family mansion on the outskirts of Paris where Marine and her sisters were brought up. Sparks flew when they faced each other in the presidential debates before the first round of voting, when Le Pen memorably accused Macron of waffling for seven minutes and saying nothing. Macron said she was transforming France's millions of Muslims into "enemies of the republic". "Everyone expects both of them to be on the offensive," said historian Christian Delporte. "But Le Pen would be wrong to be too aggressive." In the end, both candidates -- Macron because of his youth and the fact he has never held elected office, and Le Pen as an underdog formerly seen as a fringe extremist -- "will need to come across as presidential", said Delporte, who specialises in political communication. For both, the debate will be a chance to reach out to disgruntled voters -- a recent survey found that seven in 10 voters are unhappy with the choice before them. (AFP)

France election: Macron, Le Pen to lock horns in final TV debate

Stock markets mostly rose Tuesday following the previous session&#39;s record runs triggered by the first-round result of France&#39;s presidential election.

Gains were strongest in the US, where the Nasdaq surged above 6,000 for the first time and the blue-chip Dow index jumped more than one per cent following several strong earnings reports from big companies.

The increases were more modest among European equity indices, while the euro reached its highest level so far of 2017 against the dollar. &nbsp;

Global shares had soared Monday after centrist Emmanuel Macron topped the initial vote and looked well on course to beat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the May 7 run-off.

&quot;Markets have continued their push higher from yesterday, although at a much more relaxed pace,&quot; said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG trading group.&nbsp;

&quot;The immediate impact of Macron&#39;s first-round success is wearing off, but the relief is still palpable among investors.&quot;

The outlook also improved for the euro currency, which no longer looks vulnerable to a so-called Frexit threatened by Le Pen.

&quot;The risk of both the euro zone and the broader European Union unraveling dissipated in a meaningful way with centrist Emmanuel Macron finishing first in last week&#39;s preliminary election and projected to take the next and final round of voting on May 7,&quot; said Joe Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions.

In the US, gains were propelled in part by strong earnings with three Dow members posting strong advances after reporting solid earnings. Industrial giant Caterpillar surged 7.9 per cent, DuPont 3.6 per cent and McDonald&#39;s 5.6 perc ent.

Analysts also have been heartened by talk in recent days from the White House touting news of a long-awaited tax cut plan, with President Donald Trump expected to release details on Wednesday.

Key figures&nbsp;at 2100 GMT&nbsp;

New York - Dow: UP 1.1 per cent at&nbsp;20,996.12 (close)

New York - S&amp;P 500: UP 0.6 per cent at 2,388.61 (close)

New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.7 per cent at 6,025.49 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2&nbsp;per cent at 7,275.64 points (close)

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.1 per cent at 12,467.04 (close)

Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.2&nbsp;per cent at 5,277.88 (close)

EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2&nbsp;per cent at 3,583.16

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 per cent at 19,079.33 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.3 per cent at 24,455.94 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 per cent at 3,134.57 (close)

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0934 from $1.0867 at 2100 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2835 from $1.2793

Dollar/yen: UP at 111.12 yen from 109.78 yen

Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 50 cents at $52.10 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 33 cents at $49.56 per barrel&nbsp;

(AFP)

The outlook also improved for the euro currency, after Macron fared better than eurosceptic Marine Le Pen in the first round of French polls

Stock markets mostly rose Tuesday following the previous session's record runs triggered by the first-round result of France's presidential election. Gains were strongest in the US, where the Nasdaq surged above 6,000 for the first time and the blue-chip Dow index jumped more than one per cent following several strong earnings reports from big companies. The increases were more modest among European equity indices, while the euro reached its highest level so far of 2017 against the dollar. Global shares had soared Monday after centrist Emmanuel Macron topped the initial vote and looked well on course to beat far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the May 7 run-off. "Markets have continued their push higher from yesterday, although at a much more relaxed pace," said Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG trading group. "The immediate impact of Macron's first-round success is wearing off, but the relief is still palpable among investors." The outlook also improved for the euro currency, which no longer looks vulnerable to a so-called Frexit threatened by Le Pen. "The risk of both the euro zone and the broader European Union unraveling dissipated in a meaningful way with centrist Emmanuel Macron finishing first in last week's preliminary election and projected to take the next and final round of voting on May 7," said Joe Manimbo, senior market analyst at Western Union Business Solutions. In the US, gains were propelled in part by strong earnings with three Dow members posting strong advances after reporting solid earnings. Industrial giant Caterpillar surged 7.9 per cent, DuPont 3.6 per cent and McDonald's 5.6 perc ent. Analysts also have been heartened by talk in recent days from the White House touting news of a long-awaited tax cut plan, with President Donald Trump expected to release details on Wednesday. Key figures at 2100 GMT New York - Dow: UP 1.1 per cent at 20,996.12 (close) New York - S&P 500: UP 0.6 per cent at 2,388.61 (close) New York - Nasdaq: UP 0.7 per cent at 6,025.49 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 per cent at 7,275.64 points (close) Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.1 per cent at 12,467.04 (close) Paris - CAC 40: UP 0.2 per cent at 5,277.88 (close) EURO STOXX 50: UP 0.2 per cent at 3,583.16 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: UP 1.1 per cent at 19,079.33 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.3 per cent at 24,455.94 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.2 per cent at 3,134.57 (close) Euro/dollar: UP at $1.0934 from $1.0867 at 2100 GMT Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2835 from $1.2793 Dollar/yen: UP at 111.12 yen from 109.78 yen Oil - Brent North Sea: UP 50 cents at $52.10 per barrel Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 33 cents at $49.56 per barrel (AFP)

French election result revs up global stocks; Nasdaq touches 6,000

French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said on Monday (April 24) that she was stepping aside from the leadership of her far-right National Front party 1in a bid to unite the French people as she prepared for the second round of the presidential election.

Most polls see Le Pen trailing her centrist rival Emmanuel Macron 40 points to 60, and she has to widen her support if she can hope to beat him in the run-off on May 7.

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<h5>I have always considered that the president is the president of all the French people and therefore that he or she has to unite all the French people. That&#39;s a deeply-held conviction but now we have to act on it and that&#39;s why I think it&#39;s essential to stand back temporarily from the leadership of the National Front&#39;</h5>
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&quot;We can win. And I&#39;ll go even further, we&#39;re going to win. We&#39;re starting this campaign, according to the polls, 40 - 60. Ten little points, believe me it&#39;s totally doable, particularly because it has to be said that Mr (presidential candidate Emmanuel) Macron has benefited from a sort of skillfully-maintained haze in the first round. And now the haze is going to fade because now we&#39;re face-to-face,&quot; Le Pen said.

&quot;This evening I&#39;m no longer the president of the National Front, I am a candidate for the presidency of France,&quot; Le Pen told French television channel France 2.

Hugh Schofield from the <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39696861">BBC </a>in Paris described the act as symbolic, saying it intended to show that her concern is for the country as a whole, not for her party, and that she is trying to appeal to voters of the candidates who lost in the first round, especially those of Fran&ccedil;ois Fillon.

<a href="http://nypost.com/2017/04/24/marine-le-pen-temporarily-steps-down-as-party-leader/" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a> characterised the move as trying to bring &quot;a wider range of potential voters&quot; to&nbsp;her party, the National Front Party, which has been &quot;long tainted by racism&nbsp;and anti-Semitsm&quot;.

&quot;I&#39;m going to respond very clearly: I think we&#39;re reaching the critical moment. I have always considered that the president is the president of all the French people and therefore that he or she has to unite all the French people. That&#39;s a deeply-held conviction but now we have to act on it and that&#39;s why I think it&#39;s essential to stand back temporarily from the leadership of the National Front. So this evening I&#39;m no longer the president of the National Front, I am a candidate for the presidency of France,&quot; the presidential hopeful said.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The step down is temporary, and an attempt to unite the French people behind her bid for the presidency

French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said on Monday (April 24) that she was stepping aside from the leadership of her far-right National Front party 1in a bid to unite the French people as she prepared for the second round of the presidential election. Most polls see Le Pen trailing her centrist rival Emmanuel Macron 40 points to 60, and she has to widen her support if she can hope to beat him in the run-off on May 7. I have always considered that the president is the president of all the French people and therefore that he or she has to unite all the French people. That's a deeply-held conviction but now we have to act on it and that's why I think it's essential to stand back temporarily from the leadership of the National Front' × "We can win. And I'll go even further, we're going to win. We're starting this campaign, according to the polls, 40 - 60. Ten little points, believe me it's totally doable, particularly because it has to be said that Mr (presidential candidate Emmanuel) Macron has benefited from a sort of skillfully-maintained haze in the first round. And now the haze is going to fade because now we're face-to-face," Le Pen said. "This evening I'm no longer the president of the National Front, I am a candidate for the presidency of France," Le Pen told French television channel France 2. Hugh Schofield from the BBC in Paris described the act as symbolic, saying it intended to show that her concern is for the country as a whole, not for her party, and that she is trying to appeal to voters of the candidates who lost in the first round, especially those of François Fillon. The Associated Press characterised the move as trying to bring "a wider range of potential voters" to her party, the National Front Party, which has been "long tainted by racism and anti-Semitsm". "I'm going to respond very clearly: I think we're reaching the critical moment. I have always considered that the president is the president of all the French people and therefore that he or she has to unite all the French people. That's a deeply-held conviction but now we have to act on it and that's why I think it's essential to stand back temporarily from the leadership of the National Front. So this evening I'm no longer the president of the National Front, I am a candidate for the presidency of France," the presidential hopeful said. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

France: Le Pen steps down as party leader

French President Francois Hollande on Monday urged voters to reject far-right leader Marine Le Pen in next month&#39;s presidential runoff against pro-EU candidate Emmanuel Macron.

Macron is the clear favourite to become France&#39;s youngest-ever president after topping Sunday&#39;s first round of voting with 24.01 percent of votes, ahead of National Front (FN) leader Le Pen on 21.3 percent, according to final results.

The vote revealed a country deeply divided, with 39-year-old Macron, an advocate of open borders and free trade, leading the vote in cities and Le Pen topping the polls in rural areas that feel left behind by globalisation.

In a solemn address to voters, Hollande warned of the &quot;risk for our country&quot; of a far-right victory and said he himself would vote for Macron, who served as his economy minister for two years.

The Socialist president joined a long line of politicians urging voters to back Macron in order to thwart the anti-immigration, anti-EU Le Pen.

Le Pen seized on the flurry of endorsements for Macron from the ruling Socialists and main opposition Republicans -- both of which crashed out in the first round -- as proof he was the choice of a discredited old guard.

Visiting a market in the northern town of Rouvroy on Monday, 48-year-old Le Pen lashed out at the &quot;rotten old republican front&quot; -- the ad-hoc anti-FN coalition formed by mainstream parties whenever the party is at the gates of power.

&quot;I&#39;ve come here to start the second round campaign in the only way I know -- on the ground with the French people,&quot; she said.

She later told France 2 television: &quot;Nothing in either Mr Macron&#39;s policies or his behaviour suggests the slightest proof of love for France,&quot; and insisted, &quot;We are going to win.&quot;

Le Pen, who is also FN leader, also said she was setting party affairs to one side in order to concentrate on the campaign.

&quot;I will feel freer, I will be above partisan considerations, it&#39;s an important act,&quot; Le Pen said.

Macron received several congratulatory calls on Monday from European leaders relieved to find him in pole position.

Thanking Hollande in a tweet for his support, the former investment banker called on the French to &quot;remain true to France&#39;s values&quot; in the May 7 runoff.

He and Le Pen will take part in a TV debate on May 3.

According to two opinions that were carried out on Sunday night, Macron would beat Le Pen by 62-64 percent over 36-38 percent.

&#39;Healing wounds&#39;&nbsp;

Sunday&#39;s results were a stunning blow to France&#39;s traditional political class, with voters fleeing the ruling Socialists and conservative Republicans who have governed for the past half-century.

Both Macron and Le Pen campaigned as rebels who transcended the left-right divide.&nbsp;

Republicans candidate Francois Fillon was seen as the favourite until January when his campaign was torpedoed by allegations that he gave his British-born wife and two of his children fictitious jobs as parliamentary assistants.

In the end, Fillon trailed in third with 20.01 percent, ahead of radical left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon on 19.58 percent.

On Monday, Fillon told the party&#39;s top brass he lacked &quot;the legitimacy&quot; to lead them into parliamentary elections in June.&nbsp;

&quot;I need to rethink my life and heal my family&#39;s wounds,&quot; he told them, according to a statement.

Fillon and fifth-placed Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon have both rallied behind Macron.&nbsp;

But &nbsp;Melenchon has pointedly avoided backing the centrist. The leaders of the Republicans squabbled Monday over whether to endorse Macron openly or simply urge supporters not to vote for Le Pen.&nbsp;

&#39;Patriots v nationalists&#39;&nbsp;

Addressing thousands of flag-waving supporters in Paris on Sunday evening, Macron said he aimed to unite &quot;patriots&quot; against &quot;the threat of nationalists&quot;.

Le Pen, who has been hoping to emulate Donald Trump&#39;s victory in the US, said the French faced a choice between &quot;runaway globalisation&quot; and a protectionist France.

Her plans to restore France&#39;s borders with its European neighbours, pull out of the eurozone and hold a referendum on leaving the EU had sown fear of another devastating blow to the bloc after Britain&#39;s vote to leave.

The euro and European stocks rose Monday, buoyed by expectations that Macron is the hot favourite for next president.

Le Pen gained over 1.2 million new voters compared with her last presidential bid in 2012, securing 7.7 million ballots, a result she hailed as &quot;historic&quot;.

But her share of the vote was far below a March poll high of 27 percent.

She follows in the footsteps of her father Jean-Marie, who made it through to the 2002 presidential run-off in what was a political earthquake for France.

Le Pen senior went on to suffer a stinging defeat when mainstream parties closed ranks to keep him out.

Sunday&#39;s first round capped a rollercoaster campaign in a demoralised France, which has been rocked by a series of terror attacks since 2015 and is struggling to shake off a deep economic malaise.&nbsp;&nbsp;

(AFP)

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is currently topping the polls in rural areas that feel left behind by globalisation

French President Francois Hollande on Monday urged voters to reject far-right leader Marine Le Pen in next month's presidential runoff against pro-EU candidate Emmanuel Macron. Macron is the clear favourite to become France's youngest-ever president after topping Sunday's first round of voting with 24.01 percent of votes, ahead of National Front (FN) leader Le Pen on 21.3 percent, according to final results. The vote revealed a country deeply divided, with 39-year-old Macron, an advocate of open borders and free trade, leading the vote in cities and Le Pen topping the polls in rural areas that feel left behind by globalisation. In a solemn address to voters, Hollande warned of the "risk for our country" of a far-right victory and said he himself would vote for Macron, who served as his economy minister for two years. The Socialist president joined a long line of politicians urging voters to back Macron in order to thwart the anti-immigration, anti-EU Le Pen. Le Pen seized on the flurry of endorsements for Macron from the ruling Socialists and main opposition Republicans -- both of which crashed out in the first round -- as proof he was the choice of a discredited old guard. Visiting a market in the northern town of Rouvroy on Monday, 48-year-old Le Pen lashed out at the "rotten old republican front" -- the ad-hoc anti-FN coalition formed by mainstream parties whenever the party is at the gates of power. "I've come here to start the second round campaign in the only way I know -- on the ground with the French people," she said. She later told France 2 television: "Nothing in either Mr Macron's policies or his behaviour suggests the slightest proof of love for France," and insisted, "We are going to win." Le Pen, who is also FN leader, also said she was setting party affairs to one side in order to concentrate on the campaign. "I will feel freer, I will be above partisan considerations, it's an important act," Le Pen said. Macron received several congratulatory calls on Monday from European leaders relieved to find him in pole position. Thanking Hollande in a tweet for his support, the former investment banker called on the French to "remain true to France's values" in the May 7 runoff. He and Le Pen will take part in a TV debate on May 3. According to two opinions that were carried out on Sunday night, Macron would beat Le Pen by 62-64 percent over 36-38 percent. 'Healing wounds' Sunday's results were a stunning blow to France's traditional political class, with voters fleeing the ruling Socialists and conservative Republicans who have governed for the past half-century. Both Macron and Le Pen campaigned as rebels who transcended the left-right divide. Republicans candidate Francois Fillon was seen as the favourite until January when his campaign was torpedoed by allegations that he gave his British-born wife and two of his children fictitious jobs as parliamentary assistants. In the end, Fillon trailed in third with 20.01 percent, ahead of radical left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon on 19.58 percent. On Monday, Fillon told the party's top brass he lacked "the legitimacy" to lead them into parliamentary elections in June. "I need to rethink my life and heal my family's wounds," he told them, according to a statement. Fillon and fifth-placed Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon have both rallied behind Macron. But Melenchon has pointedly avoided backing the centrist. The leaders of the Republicans squabbled Monday over whether to endorse Macron openly or simply urge supporters not to vote for Le Pen. 'Patriots v nationalists' Addressing thousands of flag-waving supporters in Paris on Sunday evening, Macron said he aimed to unite "patriots" against "the threat of nationalists". Le Pen, who has been hoping to emulate Donald Trump's victory in the US, said the French faced a choice between "runaway globalisation" and a protectionist France. Her plans to restore France's borders with its European neighbours, pull out of the eurozone and hold a referendum on leaving the EU had sown fear of another devastating blow to the bloc after Britain's vote to leave. The euro and European stocks rose Monday, buoyed by expectations that Macron is the hot favourite for next president. Le Pen gained over 1.2 million new voters compared with her last presidential bid in 2012, securing 7.7 million ballots, a result she hailed as "historic". But her share of the vote was far below a March poll high of 27 percent. She follows in the footsteps of her father Jean-Marie, who made it through to the 2002 presidential run-off in what was a political earthquake for France. Le Pen senior went on to suffer a stinging defeat when mainstream parties closed ranks to keep him out. Sunday's first round capped a rollercoaster campaign in a demoralised France, which has been rocked by a series of terror attacks since 2015 and is struggling to shake off a deep economic malaise. (AFP)

French election: Hollande urges voters to reject Le Pen

Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Sunday emerged as the projected winners of a nail-biting first round presidential vote in France.

The likely result clears the way for a straight two-way fight between the pair in a second and final round on May 7, with opinion polls saying Macron is the favourite.

Here are some of the first reactions to Sunday&#39;s vote:

European Union&nbsp;

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated the pro-EU Macron after projections showed him ahead in the first round and wished him &quot;good luck&quot; in the run-off.

&quot;To see the flags of #France and the EU greet the result of @emmanuelmacron, it&#39;s the hope and future of our generation,&quot; tweeted EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, a former Italian foreign minister.

Michel Barnier, the European Commission&#39;s chief negotiator on Britain&#39;s withdrawal from the EU, hinted at concerns that Le Pen could lead France away from the bloc.

&quot;Patriot and European, I will put my trust in Emmanuel Macron on May 7. France must remain European,&quot; the Frenchman tweeted.

Germany&nbsp;

Chancellor Angela Merkel&#39;s spokesman wished Macron &quot;all the best for the next two weeks&quot;.

&quot;It&#39;s good that Emmanuel Macron was successful with his course for a strong EU and social market economy,&quot; Steffen Seibert said in a tweet.

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel predicted that the 39-year-old Macron would be the next president of France.

&quot;I&#39;m sure he will sweep away the far-right, right-wing populism and the anti-Europeans in the second round,&quot; Social Democrat Gabriel said in a video posted on Twitter during a trip to Jordan&#39;s capital Amman.

Writing on Twitter, he added: &quot;I&#39;m glad that @EmmanuelMacron is leading the field. He was the only truly pro-European candidate.&quot;

Britain&nbsp;

Former Conservative finance minister George Osborne, recently appointed editor of London&#39;s Evening Standard newspaper, hailed a good result for the centre.

&quot;Congratulations to my friend&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/" shape="rect" target="_blank">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. Proof you can win from the centre. At last, the chance for the leadership that France needs,&quot; he tweeted.

Denmark&nbsp;

Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed cautious optimism that former banker Macron would emerge victorious over Le Pen.

&quot;Congratulations&nbsp;<a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron" shape="rect" target="_blank">@EmmanuelMacron</a>. We should await the final election, but Europe needs an openminded and reform oriented France =&gt; Good luck!&quot;

Norway&nbsp;

Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende, whose country is not a member of the European Union, tweeted: &quot;We need more not less cooperation in #Europe. Positive that @EmmanuelMacron is projected to win first round of #franceelections.

The Netherlands&nbsp;

Geert Wilders, Dutch MP and leader of the anti-Islam anti-immigrant Freedom Party, swung behind Le Pen, welcoming the result as a &quot;bright day for patriots in France and elsewhere who want more national sovereignty and less EU and immigration.

&quot;I have just sent her my sincere congratulations. Now on the way to a vigorous second round, I am hoping for a President Le Pen.&quot;

(AFP)

Earlier, Macron and Le Pen emerged as the projected winners of the first round of the election vote

Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Sunday emerged as the projected winners of a nail-biting first round presidential vote in France. The likely result clears the way for a straight two-way fight between the pair in a second and final round on May 7, with opinion polls saying Macron is the favourite. Here are some of the first reactions to Sunday's vote: European Union European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated the pro-EU Macron after projections showed him ahead in the first round and wished him "good luck" in the run-off. "To see the flags of #France and the EU greet the result of @emmanuelmacron, it's the hope and future of our generation," tweeted EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, a former Italian foreign minister. Michel Barnier, the European Commission's chief negotiator on Britain's withdrawal from the EU, hinted at concerns that Le Pen could lead France away from the bloc. "Patriot and European, I will put my trust in Emmanuel Macron on May 7. France must remain European," the Frenchman tweeted. Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman wished Macron "all the best for the next two weeks". "It's good that Emmanuel Macron was successful with his course for a strong EU and social market economy," Steffen Seibert said in a tweet. Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel predicted that the 39-year-old Macron would be the next president of France. "I'm sure he will sweep away the far-right, right-wing populism and the anti-Europeans in the second round," Social Democrat Gabriel said in a video posted on Twitter during a trip to Jordan's capital Amman. Writing on Twitter, he added: "I'm glad that @EmmanuelMacron is leading the field. He was the only truly pro-European candidate." Britain Former Conservative finance minister George Osborne, recently appointed editor of London's Evening Standard newspaper, hailed a good result for the centre. "Congratulations to my friend @EmmanuelMacron. Proof you can win from the centre. At last, the chance for the leadership that France needs," he tweeted. Denmark Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed cautious optimism that former banker Macron would emerge victorious over Le Pen. "Congratulations @EmmanuelMacron. We should await the final election, but Europe needs an openminded and reform oriented France => Good luck!" Norway Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende, whose country is not a member of the European Union, tweeted: "We need more not less cooperation in #Europe. Positive that @EmmanuelMacron is projected to win first round of #franceelections. The Netherlands Geert Wilders, Dutch MP and leader of the anti-Islam anti-immigrant Freedom Party, swung behind Le Pen, welcoming the result as a "bright day for patriots in France and elsewhere who want more national sovereignty and less EU and immigration. "I have just sent her my sincere congratulations. Now on the way to a vigorous second round, I am hoping for a President Le Pen." (AFP)

World's reaction to France's presidential election

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