PM Modi congratulates new French pro-EU president Macron for his ‘emphatic victory’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated new elected French president Emmanuel Macron said he looked forward to working closely with him to further strengthen the bilateral relations.

“Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron fr an emphatic victory in the French Presidential election.  #Presidentielle2017,” Modi tweeted.

“I look forward to working closely with President-elect @EmmanuelMacron to further strengthen India-France ties,” he added.

Youngest and Pro-EU President

Ripping up France’s political map, French voters elected independent centrist Macron as the country’s youngest president, delivering a resounding victory to the unabashedly pro-European former investment banker and strengthening France’s place as a central pillar of the European Union.

“A new page in our long history is opening tonight. I want it to be one of hope and renewed confidence,” Macron said.

Macron’s victory marked the third time in six months— following elections in Austria and the Netherlands—that European voters shot down far-right populists who wanted to restore borders across Europe.

US, Germany first to congratulate

Congratulatory messages poured in from abroad. Trump tweeted congratulations on what he called Macron’s “big win” and said he looked forward to working with the French leader.

Macron has said he wants continued intelligence-sharing with the United States and cooperation at the United Nations and hopes to persuade Trump not to pull the US out of a global accord fighting climate change.

Germany’s foreign minister, Sigmar Gabriel, laced his welcome for Macron with a warning to the French, saying: “If he fails, in five years Mrs Le Pen will be president and the European project will go to the dogs.”

(With Inputs from PTI)