PARIS (Washington Insider Magazine) – Emmanuel Macron has been re-elected as France’s president for another 5 years following a resounding victory against opponent Marine Le Pen, who received the extreme right’s largest vote percentage yet.
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He prevailed by a larger margin than projected, 58.55 percent to 41.45 percent.
At the base of the Eiffel Tower, the centrist president promised ecstatic followers that now that the elections were over, he is going to be a “president for all.”
He is the 1st incumbent president to be re-elected in 20 years.
Despite her defeat, Le Pen, 53, stated that her large vote share was nevertheless a win.
She assured her fans that the principles espoused by her National Rally had achieved new heights. Right-wing opponent Eric Zemmour, on the other hand, highlighted that she, like her father before her, had eventually failed.
In 2011, Marine Le Pen assumed command of the party formed by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in an attempt to achieve electability. On Sunday, she received over 13 million ballots on a programme that included tax cuts to combat rising living costs, a prohibition on donning the Muslim head covering in public, as well as a vote on immigration policy.
Over 3 million voters submitted spoiled or empty votes, resulting in the lowest voter turnout in a presidential election since 1969.
Although most of France had been on holiday on election day, the poor turnout indicated voter indifference, as many grumbled that neither contender represented them. Many who indicated they were casting empty votes said they intended to punish the president who was currently in office.
Anti-Macron activists took to the streets in Nantes, Toulouse, Rennes, and Paris, refusing to accept the outcome.
Macron, 44, said in his address that the French administration will have to respond to their refusal to select.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the left-wing politician who was barely defeated by Marine Le Pen during the first round of polling 2 weeks ago, was critical of both candidates.
While it was great news that France had declined to put its confidence in Le Pen, he argued that Macron had performed worse than any president in terms of election results.
European leaders were relieved by Macron’s win, as they had expected a far-right leader who would propose a slew of anti-EU measures.
The first to applaud him was German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who highlighted their shared struggle in confronting Russia’s attack on Ukraine. President Joe Biden of the United States also expressed his desire for strong cooperation, especially support for Ukraine.
While Macron had assumed a vital diplomatic part in the conflict, Le Pen had failed to escape charges of Russian links. Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine greeted him as a genuine friend and expressed his hope for a strong and unified Europe.
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, congratulated Macron on his triumph.
Macron gave his victory address at the Champs de Mars, a hugely significant location from the French Revolution.
He proceeded to the platform with his spouse Brigitte and a number of children, backed by the European Union anthem Ode to Joy, before pledging followers that no one would be left behind. He said he would be thankful to those who had supported him to prevent the right-wing out of office for years to come.
The cost-of-living problem that millions of French citizens are experiencing became the election’s top topic, with the president’s opponents accusing him of arrogance as well as behaving as a president for the wealthy.
Prime Minister Jean Castex, on the other hand, informed French radio that Macron’s re-election sends a powerful message at a time when France was facing a major crisis marked by numerous differences and a lack of comprehension.
In the coming days, Castex is expected to be dismissed, and Macron might persuade Labour Minister Elisabeth Borne to replace him. She declined to say if she was being groomed to be the future prime minister, arguing that the priority should be to address people’s concerns about living conditions. Clément Beaune, a cabinet ally, said the president was very interested in appointing a female prime minister.
The next job for France’s elected politicians is to reorganize and campaign for legislative elections in June. Macron might just have a lead for the time being, but failed first-round contenders are already planning a fresh campaign, and according to one survey, 63 percent of respondents would like him to lose the majority.
If that happens, he will be compelled to “cohabit” with an administration run by other political groups.
Mélenchon has previously stated that he believes he can beat Macron’s centrist party and become Prime Minister.
Le Pen warned supporters in a rally on Sunday night that the game was far from over and that the chances of Macron retaining total authority were significant.
For the time being, there is no hint of a leadership shift in Le Pen’s National Rally party.
