Macron Re-Elected And Pledge To Unite France

Emmanuel Macron has defeated Marine Le Pen convincingly in France’s presidential election, he pledges to unite the country.

Emmanuel Macron has been re-elected as France’s president after a convincing victory over rival Marine Le Pen, who nevertheless secured the far right’s highest share of the vote yet.

She told her supporters that the ideas represented by her National Rally had reached new heights. However, far-right rival Eric Zemmour pointed out that she, like her father before her, had ultimately failed: “It’s the eighth time the Le Pen name has been hit by defeat.”

In 2011, Marine Le Pen took over the party founded by her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, in an attempt to make it electable. On Sunday, she received more than 13 million votes on a platform of tax cuts to combat rising living costs, a ban on wearing the Muslim headscarf in public, and a referendum on immigration controls.

“An answer must be found to the anger and disagreements that led many of our compatriots to vote for the extreme right,” Mr Macron said in his victory speech. “It will be my responsibility and that of those around me.”

France Presidential Election Result

More than one-third of those who voted did not vote for either candidate. Turnout was just under 72%, the lowest in a presidential run-off since 1969, and over three million people voted spoilt or blank.

On the day of the election, much of France was on vacation, but the low turnout also reflected the apathy of voters who complained that neither candidate represented them. Voters who said they were voting with blank ballots told enomaomoruyi that they were doing so to punish the incumbent president.

Anti-Macron protesters took to the streets in a number of cities, including Paris, Rennes, Toulouse, and Nantes, refusing to accept the outcome.

The United States and Europe react to Macron’s re-election:

European leaders were relieved by Mr Macron’s victory, as they had feared a far-right candidate offering a slew of anti-EU policies.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was the first to congratulate him, highlighting their shared challenge in responding to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. US Vice President Joe Biden also stated that he looks forward to “close cooperation,” including support for Ukraine.

While Mr Macron has played an important diplomatic role in the war, Marine Le Pen has struggled to overcome allegations of Kremlin ties. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated him and expressed his hope for a strong and united Europe.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted to congratulate Macron.

Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world.

🇬🇧🇫🇷

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 24, 2022

Mr Macron chose the Champs de Mars, a highly symbolic location from the French Revolution, for his victory speech.

He walked to the stage with his wife Brigitte and a group of children, accompanied by the EU anthem Ode to Joy, before promising supporters that “no one will be left by the wayside.” In a speech to supporters who had backed him to keep the far-right out of power, he said he would be grateful to them for many years to come.

The cost of living crisis confronting millions of French people became the election campaign’s focal point, with the president’s opponents accusing him of arrogance and acting as a president of the rich.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jean Castex told French radio that the president’s re-election sent a strong message at a time when France was facing a significant crisis, “many divisions and a lack of understanding”.

The next task for France’s political leaders is to regroup and campaign for parliamentary elections in June. Mr Macron may have a majority for the time being, but defeated candidates from the first round are already planning a new campaign, and one poll suggests that 63 per cent of voters want him to lose his majority.

If this occurs, he will be forced to “coexist” with a government led by other parties.

Mr Mélenchon has already hinted that he could defeat the president’s centrist party and become Prime Minister.

Ms Le Pen told supporters in her speech on Sunday night that the “match is not completely over” and that the risks of Mr Macron retaining complete power were high.