- Emmanuel Macron has become France’s new president
- He beat Marine Le Pen by winning 66 per cent votes
- Le Pen phoned Macron to congratulate him on his win
- Outgoing French President Francois Hollande says Macron’s victory is a sign of French unity
- Macron says let’s love France with humility, devotion and resolve
- US President Donald Trump congratulates Macron
- Le Pen said her National Front party will be relaunched
Centrist Emmanuel Macron was elected French president on Sunday, defeating Marine Le Pen, a far-right nationalist who threatened to take France out of the European Union.
Macron became France’s youngest leader since Napoleon and his win also smashed the dominance of mainstream parties in France. He won with a wide margin of over 30 per cent over Le Pen, something which pre-election surveys had suggested.
In his first address after winning the presidential election, Macron vowed to “defend France and its interests”. His win also gives hope to the minorities in the country, especially the Muslims, who can now live in harmony and with respect.
Macron also said he would work to heal the deep divisions in France that led to large scores for far-right and far-left parties and would seek to bring European institutions closer to the peoples of Europe.
Le Pen said that she will relaunch her party, National Front, by renewing itself and meeting the French people’s expectations.
'Macron's election gives hope to French Muslims'
Paris’ main Mosque said that the election of Macron as France’s next president was a sign of reconciliation between French religions.
“It is a clear sign of hope to French Muslims that they can live in harmony and respect of French values”, La Grande Mosquée de Paris said in a statement.
Le Pen to Relaunch National Front
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Sunday her National Front party would be completely overhauled after centrist Emmanuel Macron defeated her.
The anti-EU, anti-immigration Le Pen said that the election has pitted “patriots” against “globalists” after candidates from the traditionally dominant socialist and conservative parties were eliminated in an 23 April first round vote.
Addressing supporters shortly after initial projections showed she lost, Le Pen said that voters would face the same choice in legislative elections next month, in which she said she intended to lead her party.
“I will propose to start this deep transformation of our movement in order to make a new political force,” she added.
Le Pen's Father Says Her Stance on Euro, Europe Undermined Her
Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the far-right National Front, said on Sunday his daughter Marine Le Pen’s campaign for the French presidency had been undermined by its proposals to quit the euro and the European Union.
“It is the problems of the euro, of Europe, of pensions which have dragged down the campaign of Madame Le Pen, I think,” said Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was expelled from the party in 2015.
I think we must speak to France about the real problems, demographic problems, problems of mass immigration,Jean-Marie to RTL radio