Emmanuel Macron wins French presidential election race

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

On Sunday, En Marche! candidate Emmanuel Macron won the second round of the 2017 French Presidential election, winning about 66.1 percent of the votes, defeating Front national's Marine Le Pen with the final result declared yesterday. Winning the race with a significant vote difference, Marcon tweeted, "Everyone told us that it was impossible. But they did not know France!" ^{((fr))French language: ‍Tout le monde nous disait que c’était impossible. Mais ils ne connaissaient pas la France !}

With this victory, winning almost twice as many votes as Le Pen, 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron became the youngest President-elect of the Republic of France. In the first round of the election, held on April 23, no candidate won the absolute majority. The abstention rate increased from 22.23% to 25.44% in the second round, AFP reported, the first such second-round increase since 1969. He won the presidential race in the continuing state of emergency which was announced after the November 2015 Paris attack.

Known for her anti-European and anti-globalisation programme, far-right leader Le Pen managed to win about twice as many votes as her father and founder of the Front national party Jean-Marie Le Pen who lost to Jacques Chirac in 2002. Front national won the highest number of votes in their history.

In his speech in front of the glass pyramid near the Louvre Museum, Macron said, "I understand the divisions of our country that have led some to vote for extremists. I understand the anger, the anxiety, the doubts that a great part among us have also expressed." ^{((fr))French language: ‍Je sais les divisions de notre nation qui ont conduit certains à un vote extrême. Je sais les colères, les doutes, l'anxiété que certains ont exprimé.} He also added, "I will defend France, its vital interests, its image, I promise you in front of you. I will defend Europe, our civilisation is at stake, our way of being free. I will work to re-establish the bonds between Europe and the citizens. I address to the nations of the world, the salvation of fraternal France." ^{((fr))French language: ‍Je défendrai la France, ses intérêts vitaux, son image. J'en prends l'engagement devant vous. Je défendrai l'Europe, c'est notre civilisation qui est en jeu, notre manière d'être libre. J'oeuvrerai à retisser les liens entre l'Europe et les citoyens. J'adresse aux nations du monde, le salut de la France fraternelle.} Macron said he would serve as per the motto of France — Liberté, égalité, fraternité ^{((fr))French language: ‍Liberty, equality and fraternity}. Acknowledging the "immense" awaiting task, he said, "I will do everything I can in the coming five years to make sure you never have a reason to vote for extremism again".

"Congratulations Emmanuel Macron! Let's meet soon, and keep working to grow and strengthen the deep ties between Canada and France" ^{((fr))French language: ‍Félicitations Emmanuel Macron! Rencontrons-nous rapidement et continuons à renforcer les liens de fraternité entre le Canada et la France}, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted. German chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Macron via a telephone call.

French parliamentary elections are to be held in June, and Emmanuel Macron, who describes himself as "neither left nor right" does not have a party in the parliament. En Marche! was formed last year. Marine Le Pen tweeted that Front national "must renew itself to live up to this historic opportunity and expectations of France" ^{((fr))French language: ‍doit se renouveler pour être à la hauteur de cette opportunité historique et des attentes des Français}.

Current president, François Hollande announced he would not run for re-election in December.

"Everyone told us that it was impossible. But they did not know France!" ^{((fr))French language: ‍Tout le monde nous disait que c’était impossible. Mais ils ne connaissaient pas la France !}
—Emmanuel Macron

20,753,798	10,644,118
Emmanuel Macron – En Marche!	Marine Le Pen – Front national

Data from Ministère de l'Intérieu.

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Sources

"Résultats globaux du second tour de l'élection du Président de la République 2017" — Ministère de l'Intérieur, May 8, 2017
AFP. "Macron won 66.1%, Le Pen 33.9% in French vote: final results" — Yahoo! News, May 8, 2017
"Macron vows to unite France after stunning election win" — The Local, May 8, 2017
Emmanuel Macron. "Emmanuel Macron on Twitter" — Twitter, May 7, 2017 (French)
Alissa J. Rubin. "Macron Decisively Defeats Le Pen in French Presidential Race" — The New York Times, May 7, 2017
Justin Trudeau. "Justin Trudeau on Twitter" — Twitter, May 7, 2017 (French)
Jour J. "Emmanuel Macron président de la République : retour sur la soirée électorale" — Atlantico, May 7, 2017 (French)
Emmanuel Macron. "Emmanuel Macron on Twitter" — Twitter, May 7, 2017 (French)
Marine Le Pen. "Marine Le Pen on Twitter" — Twitter, May 7, 2017 (French)

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