PARIS – France and the world took stock on Monday by President Emmanuel Macron The election is decisivea victory for his centrist, pro-European policies and a relief for the Western allies, although the outcome was eclipsed by a best-ever performance for the side. far-right.
Mr. Macron became the first French president since 2002 to win a second term, with 58.5% of the vote, compared with 41.5% for the right-wing challenger, Marine Le Pen, according to the final result from the Ministry of the Interior. That’s a bigger win rate than the polls predicted after the first round of voting two weeks ago.
Congratulations Mr Macron on TwitterPresident Biden called France “our oldest ally and an important partner in addressing global challenges”.
“I look forward to our continued close cooperation – including in supporting Ukraine, defending democracy and fighting climate change,” Biden wrote.
But Mr Macron’s victory was also closer than in 2017, when he first faced off against anti-NATO, pro-Russian Ms. Le Pen. This time around, fewer voters support Mr Macron as the abstention rate was the highest for a presidential election in half a century – 28% – indicating growing political disillusionment and economic discontent.
Clément Beaune, Mr. Macron’s minister for European affairs, admitted on CNN that France was “divided” and “anxious”, especially over pocket issues such as the cost of living and prices. energy.
“Now we have to do this,” Mr. Beaune said Monday.
“Big win, big challenge,” was the headline Monday in Le Figaro, a right-wing daily newspaper. The left-leaning Libération noted widespread frustration with Mr Macron and praised the “political maturity of the French people, who at times campaigned to reject the appeals of democracy. far-right drug.”
In the cities of Rennes and Paris, small protests against Mr Macron’s re-election quickly turned violent on Sunday night as protesters clashed with riot police officers, leading to to several arrests.
French political forces are now turning their attention to the lower house elections in June, a key test for Mr. Macron, whose coalition holds a strong legislative majority. The results will then determine how much time he has to continue pursuing his domestic agenda.
Mr Macron’s top priority will most likely be pushing through a new bailout for French consumers, including measures to increase pensions and some welfare subsidies, expand energy subsidies and strengthen policies that allow companies to grant tax-free bonuses to employees. In the fall, Mr Macron is expected to tackle one of his most controversial plans: raising the legal retirement age.
Ms Le Pen will seek to stay in Parliament, where she has occupied a seat since 2017, a top official in her National Rally party, Louis Aliot, told France Inter radio on Monday. Her party had only a handful of legislators elected that year and hopes to grow on her presidential run.
“Now another election is starting, and more importantly, 577 elections are starting,” Mr Aliot said, referring to the number of seats that will be won.
Even some of Mr Macron’s supporters doubt he will get a sweeping majority like he did in 2017, when many political newcomers steered the wave of enthusiasm he generated when he took office. office.
At the celebration of Mr. Macron’s victory on Sunday on the Champs de Mars in Paris, where people danced and waved French flags in the shadow of the glittering Eiffel Tower, the atmosphere was more relief than jubilation.
Dustin Bourgeois, 23, an air traffic controller, said Mr Macron was the “most sensible, most stable” leader for the country. But he added, “Today in France there are two camps: the extremists and the centrists, not to mention the abstainers.”
Regarding the legislative election, he said: “I think things will be different, and that worries me. It will be difficult. ”
Adele Cordonnier contribution report.
