Emmanuel Macron wins French presidential election
Emmanuel Macron, a center-left candidate who favors remaining in the European Union, won the final round of the French presidential election on Sunday, defeating his far-right rival with about 65.5 percent of the vote.
Shortly after the voting deadline closed at 8 p.m. local time, French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve declared Mr. Macron's victory, describing the outcome of this election as a clear and visible vote by the people of that country to reject the views of the far-right.
"Tonight is a new page in our long history. I want it to be (an era of) hope and a return of trust," Emmanuel Macron, 39, said in a very brief speech to mark his victory in the 2017 election, according to AFP.
In a message, Marine Le Pen, while admitting defeat, called the level of public support for her and the National Front party in these elections "historic" and promised her supporters that she would form "a new political force" in next month's parliamentary elections.
US President Donald Trump also tweeted shortly afterwards, congratulating Mr. Macron on his "great victory" in today's vote, and said he was "very eager" to work with him as the new president of France.
The French presidential election primary was held on May 22 with the participation of 11 candidates, and Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, 48, advanced to the second round; an election that is being called the most militant election in French history.
Mr Macron, now the youngest president in French history, has described his rival as a master of “intimidation” who talks a lot but lacks the power to act. Ms Le Pen, in turn, has called him a representative of “ruthless globalisation” that will squander France’s assets.
The two candidates cast their votes in two different small towns in northern France before returning to their campaign headquarters in Paris. The current Socialist President François Hollande also voted in the central French city of Touls.
This is the first election in which the two final candidates are not affiliated with the major French parties, and issues such as immigration and security have dominated the electoral debate in this European country that has witnessed terrorist attacks for the past two years.
Of France's 67 million people, 47 million were eligible to vote in this election cycle. About 4 million cast blank ballots, indicating their dissatisfaction with the country's current political situation.
According to the French Interior Ministry, voter turnout was around 28 percent before Sunday afternoon, but increased to 65.3 percent in the evening, which is about 6 percent less than five years ago.
Mr. Macron's victory is very important not only for France but also for the future of the European Union, especially after the British people decided to leave the European bloc in a referendum in early July last year.
It is also the first time that a French presidential election has been held under a state of emergency; a state that was declared following the 2015 terrorist attacks and at the request of the president, and is still in effect.
Emmanuel Macron's inauguration ceremony will take place next Monday at the Elysee Palace.
Source: Voice of America
