France on Sunday elected its new President, centrist Emmanuel Macron, who defeated his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen by a margin of more than 30 percent. Thirty nine-year-old Macron, who became the youngest leader of the country since Napoleon, secured 66 percent of the votes in the second and final round of voting on 7 May.
The En Marche! leader’s victory puts to rest concerns about France adopting an anti-European Union and anti-immigration agenda, which National Front’s Le Pen had advocated during the bitter campaigning that betrayed deep divisions in the country.
Read the full story on the French elections.
Macron’s supporters erupted in celebrations in central Paris’ Louvre after the mandate. The President-elect expressed his gratitude to the French people and promised to work hard:
French women, French men, my dear compatriots from the metropolis and overseas. After a long democratic confrontation, you’ve decided to grant me your confidence. And I want to express my profound gratitude. It’s a great honour and it’s a great responsibility. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My gratitude goes to all of you who gave me your suffrage and support. I will not forget you. I will put all my care and energy to be worthy of your trust.Emmanuel Macron, incoming French President
Prominent world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, took to Twitter to congratulate Macron on his victory.
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