En Marche! Macron Becomes Youngest French Leader Since Napoleon
Citizens in some overseas territories begun voting as of early Sunday for the French Presidential Elections 2017.
- 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.
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 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.
'Let Us Love France'
In his first address after winning the presidential election, Macron vowed to “defend France and its interests”.
Hardening his stance on terrorism, Macron said that France “will stand on the forefront in the battle again terrorism”.
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.
“I know the divisions in our nation, which led some to vote for extremist parties. I respect them. I will fight what divides us,” Macron said in a solemn address at his campaign headquarters after winning the presidency.
“I will work to recreate the link between Europe and its peoples, between Europe and citizens,” he said.
Look Forward to Working With Macron: Trump
US President Donald Trump congratulated Emmanuel Macron on winning the election and added he was looking forward to working with him.
'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.
Macron Supporters Celebrate Victory At Louvre
Thousands of supporters of Macron have let out a big cheer when national television called the presidential election in his favor based on poll projections.
Macron's backers are singing “we have won, we have won” and are waving French flags in front of the stage in the courtyard outside the Louvre museum where he is planning to celebrate his victory.
Many expressed their relief that far-right candidate Marine Le Pen suffered a clear defeat.
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.
Majority of Voters Rallied Behind EU: Hollande
Outgoing French President Francois Hollande said that he called Macron to congratulate him on his victory.
It was Hollande who first brought Macron into the world of politics, naming the untested ex-banker as economy minister.
But Macron left the position to found his own political movement last year, and has distanced himself from his former mentor.
UK PM May, Merkel's Spokesman Congratulate Macron
British Prime Minister Theresa May has congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his success in winning the French presidential election, an emailed statement from May’s office said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman also congratulated Macron saying his win was a victory for a united Europe.
“Congratulations Emmanuel Macron. Your victory is a victory for a strong united Europe and for the Franco-German friendship,” Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said in tweets in German and French.
Marine Le Pen Congratulates Macron
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said she has called Emmanuel Macron to congratulate him and said the vote confirms her National Front party and its allies as the leader of France’s opposition.
Minutes after the first results were released, Le Pen said she would call for a new political force as legislative elections loom in June.
Macron Wins Presidency by Emphatic Margin: Projections
Emmanuel Macron was elected president of France with a business-friendly vision of European integration, defeating Marine Le Pen, a far-right nationalist who threatened to take France out of the European Union, early projections showed.
The centrist’s emphatic victory, which also smashed the dominance of France’s mainstream parties, will bring huge relief to European allies who had feared another populist upheaval to follow Britain's vote to quit the EU and Donald Trump's election as US president.
According to AFP, Macron won between 65.5 and 66.1 percent of the vote ahead of far-right Marine Le Pen on between 33.9 percent and 34.5 percent.
Early Evening Turnout Lower Than Past Three Elections
Turnout figures for the second round of the French presidential election showed a 65.30 percent participation rate by around 5 pm local time, France’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday, confirming earlier reports.
That level was lower than at the same stage of polling day in the past three presidential elections.
Those participation rate figures compared with a turnout of around 72 percent at the same time in 2012, a 75.1 percent turnout in 2007, and a 67.6 percent turnout in 2002.
Voter surveys show that it is unclear what the turnout rate could mean for the outcome.
The final abstention level in the second round of the French presidential election is likely to stand at between 25-27 percent, according to four polls published on Sunday.
A survey from Ifop-Fiducial put the abstention rate at 25 percent. Polls from Ipsos Sopra Steria and Elabe estimated the abstention rate at 26 percent while another poll from Harris Interactive estimated that rate at 27 percent.
Louvre Courtyard Reopened After Brief Security Scare
The courtyard outside the Louvre museum in Paris has reopened after a brief security scare prompted an evacuation of the site where French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron plans to celebrate election night.
Explosives experts left the site after a suspicious bag prompted the evacuation of a few hundred people, primarily journalists preparing for Macron’s event. The museum itself was not evacuated or closed, and visitors continued entering and leaving.
Louvre Courtyard Evacuated Due to ‘Suspicious Bag’
Emmanuel Macron's campaign press office said the courtyard outside the Louvre museum where the centrist French presidential candidate has planned to celebrate election night has been evacuated because of a security alert.
The press office says it was a suspicious bag that prompted the evacuation.
Macron's team said a press room had been set up at the downtown Paris location and 300 journalists who were on site have been evacuated as a precaution.
The runoff election in which Macron is competing against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is being conducted under the watch of 50,000 security forces guarding against extremist attacks.
28.2 Percent Turnout by Midday
Turnout figures for the second round of the French presidential election showed a 28.23 percent participation rate by midday local time, lower than five years ago, France’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday.
The participation rate figures compared with a comparable figure of 30.7 per cent at the same time during the last election in 2012, 34.1 per cent in 2007, and 26.2 per cent in 2002.
Commentators think a low turnout would benefit Le Pen, whose supporters are seen as more committed and therefore more likely to show up to vote.
Hollande Macron, Le Pen Cast Their Votes
Outgoing French president Francois Hollande has cast his vote in the runoff election to replace him. Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have also cast their ballots.
Macron voted in the coastal town of Le Tourquet in northern France alongside his wife, Brigitte Macron and Le Pen voted in Henin-Beaumont, a small northern town controlled by her National Front party.
Hollande voted in his political fiefdom of Tulle in southwestern France. The most unpopular French leader in the country's modern history, Hollande decided not to stand for re-election last year.
The Socialist president has called on voters to reject far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and to back centrist Emmanuel Macron, his former protégé.
Voting Begins in France
Voting began on Sunday across France in the final presidential runoff where independent centrist Emmanuel Macron is vying against far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen, the media reported.
Polling stations opened in metropolitan France at 8 am (local time) and will close at 7 pm. The stations will remain open in some big cities until 8 pm, with early estimates of the result due to be reported immediately after they close, the BBC reported.
Citizens in some overseas territories and many French expats abroad have began voting as of early Sunday.
Macron, a liberal centrist, is pro-business and a strong supporter of the European Union (EU), while Le Pen campaigned on a France-first, anti-immigration programme. She wants France to abandon the euro in the domestic economy, and hold a referendum on France's EU membership.
Macron, if successful, would become the youngest President in the history of France and the nation's youngest leader since Napoleon.
If Le Pen wins, she would be the first female head of state in France.
(With inputs from AP and Reuters.)
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