The French voters on Sunday elected Emmanuel Macron to power as their President with around 65 percent votes polled in his favour, choosing a centrist ideology over the far-right doctrine proposed by opposing candidate Marine Le Pen.
While Le Pen displayed outright hostility towards the European Union (EU), Islamic fundamentalism and immigration, Macron stood by the exact opposite – encouraging immigration, LGBTQ rights and free trade within the EU.
Leaders across the world took to congratulating the President-elect of France, expressing their desire at looking forward to work with him.
‘Further Strengthen France-India Ties’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his win as he became the next French president on Sunday.
‘Look Forward to Working With Macron’
US President Donald Trump has tweeted his congratulations to Macron on what Trump is calling Macron's “big win” in France’s presidential election.
‘Close and Comprehensive Sino-French Strategic Partnership’
-Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Emmanuel Macron on Monday for winning France's presidential election and said China was willing to further ties between the two UN Security Council permanent members, China's Xinhua news agency reported.
Xi said China was willing to work with France to push the close and comprehensive Sino-French strategic partnership to a higher level, according to Xinhua, China's official news agency.
‘Have Wide Range of Shared Priorities with France’
British Prime Minister Theresa May has offered her warm wishes to France's new president-elect, saying she welcomes a chance to work with Emmanuel Macron.
May's Downing Street office says that she “warmly congratulates President-elect Macron on his election success.”
In comments released immediately after exit polls showed Macron's victory, May said that France is one of Britain's closest allies and “we look forward to working with the new president on a wide range of shared priorities.”
France will be a key player in upcoming talks on Britain's departure from the European Union.
‘Vive La France’
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted:
Sturgeon leads the Scottish National Party, which supports independence for Scotland and its continued membership in the European Union.
‘Macron’s Win a Clear Statement of Support for Europe’
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman says she has called Emmanuel Macron to congratulate him on his victory.
Spokesman Steffen Seibert said Merkel “praised his stance for a united and open European Union during the campaign” and that “the decision of the French voters is a clear statement of support for Europe.”
Seibert’s statement said Merkel “looked forward to working together with the new president on the basis of trust in the spirit of the traditional German-French friendship.”
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while congratulating Macron on his big win, said:
I look forward to working closely with President-elect Macron in the years ahead as we work together on a progressive agenda to promote international security, increase collaboration in science and technology, and create good, middle class jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.
‘France Will Cherish Under Macron’s Presidency’
The head of the European Union's executive congratulated Macron and said that his pro-European message will continue to be that of founding nation France.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that it made him “happy that the ideas that you defended of a strong and progressive Europe that protects all its citizens will be those that France will cherish under your presidency.”
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy says France, with Emmanuel Macron as its new president, will help strengthen the European Union at a key moment for the 28-nation bloc.
He said:
France — a friend, neighbor and strategic partner of Spain — will actively contribute to the advancement and reinforcement of the European Union in a key moment of its history.
Swedish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen also took to Twitter to congratulate Emmanuel Macron on his victory.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a post on his official Facebook page that the French voters “made a clear progressive and pro-European choice.” He said that “a choice for cooperation within Europe in areas where that is necessary, instead of an inward-looking vision.”
‘Macron’s Victory Is a Breath of Fresh Air’
Greece's prime minister Alexis Tsipras said that Macron’s “victory is a fresh breath for France and the whole of Europe. I am certain we will work closely together for Europe to change course, inspire its people again so as to never again experience the nightmare of the extreme right.”
Belgium's Prime Minister Charles Michel welcomed the election of centrist Emmanuel Macron as French president and invited him to join in the effort to reinvigorate the European Union.
Charles Michel has been a staunch backer of Macron in the elections and said in a twitter message “Bravo” when he learned of the clear-cut victory over extreme-right candidate Marine Le Pen.
Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka says that Macron's win is a “positive signal for France, the entire European Union and the Czech Republic.”
Sobotka says that the French people “made it clear they reject nationalism, populism, and the isolation of their country. Most voters decided that they want a president who will represent a modern and open France.”
Slovak President Andrej Kiska tweeted:
(With inputs from AP)
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