World hails Macron’s victory in French presidential elections

How world’s political leaders reacted to Macron’s victory:

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

“Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France. I look very much forward to working with him!” said US President Donald J. Trump.

Prime Minister Theresa May also discussed Brexit with Macron, saying “the UK wants a strong partnership with a secure and prosperous EU once we leave,” the spokesman added.

“Congratulations, @EmmanuelMacron. Your victory is a victory for a strong and united Europe and for French-German friendship,” said Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman.

“The Prime Minister warmly congratulates President-elect Macron on his election success. France is one of our closest allies and we look forward to working with the new President on a wide range of shared priorities,” said a Downing Street spokesman.

“Happy that the French chose a European future,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said.

EU Council President Donald Tusk also offered his congratulations, saying the French had chosen “liberty, equality and fraternity” and “said no to the tyranny of fake news”.

“We have received a vote of confidence from France in the European Union,” European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said “The victory of President-elect Macron is a symbolic victory against inward-looking and protectionist moves and shows a vote of confidence in the EU”.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he wanted to work together with Macron on a “progressive agenda” to “promote international security, increase collaboration in science and technology, and create good, middle-class jobs on both sides of the Atlantic”.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had congratulated Macron and had received a text back saying he was “looking forward to working together”.

Besides the above leaders, other political heavyweights who congratulated Macron include Greece PM Alexis Tspiras, Spain PM Mariano Rajoy, Ireland’s Defence Minister Enda Kenny, New Zealand PM Bill English, Sweden PM Stefan Lofven, Brazil President Michel Temer also congratulated the newly elected President.

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Meanwhile, as the newly-elect President of France Emmanuel Macron strode into the courtyard of the Louvre museum to the strains of the European anthem, thousands of flag-waving supporters gave him a rapturous welcome.

The glass pyramid in the world-famous courtyard glowed golden as 39-year-old Macron made a solitary walk yesterday to a stage in front, looking solemn.

“Tonight, France won,” he cried to the crowds who yelled with joy. Many of the mainly youthful supporters were wearing the t-shirt of Macron’s centrist movement En Marche (“On the Move”).

Some supporters scaled lampposts to get a better view of Macron, who was savouring a thumping victory estimated at around 65 to 35 percent over far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

An instant street party had erupted outside the Louvre after the results were announced. Cars honked as passengers waved French flags, while the crowds chanted “President Macron, President Macron!” from the pavements.

Street vendors wheeled carts with sausages and cold drinks toward the crowds, with some vendors selling French and EU flags. Shouts of joy erupted earlier as giant screens on either side of the pyramid flashed up the result.

“He’s a symbol of hope,” said Jean-Luc Songtia, 36. “It’s like Obama eight years ago. It’s youth, it’s hope.” Under extremely tight security, hundreds of the some 1,800 journalists accredited for the event were still trying to get into the grounds when Macron’s victory was announced.

“We’ve won!” the crowd chanted as if at a football match following Macron’s win. “He killed her, that’s all there is to it,” said 31-year-old Abdel Oukil. “I was convinced she would score over 40 percent.”

Fabien Colonna, 29, said he was relieved by the decisive margin, saying “if it was less it would have been dicey,” after a bruising campaign that exposed France’s deep economic and social divisions.

The high abstention rate of around 25 percent worried Sylvie Semet, 58, who said it meant “that people don’t feel they are represented, they feel forgotten.” She added: “Macron had better work hard, because people are ready to pounce.”

Macron was to address the crowds after delivering a solemn five-minute televised address from his party headquarters nearby in which he vowed to heal the “divisions that have undermined France”.

The sobriety of that speech was in contrast to Macron’s exuberance after the April 23 first round of the election, when he qualified alongside Le Pen for yesterday’s run-off.

He drew criticism for what some saw as a triumphalist speech and then a celebratory dinner at a Paris bistro, with one prominent critic saying that he had been “smug”.

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