Some of the international reactions to Sunday’s vote

European Union

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker congratulated the pro-EU Macron and wished him “good luck” in the runoff, his spokesman tweeted.

“To see the flags of #France and the EU greet the result of @ emmanuelmacron, it’s the hope and future of our generation,” tweeted EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

Russia

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia “respects” the result, and is “in favour of building good and mutually beneficial relations”.

Russia has appeared as a keen backer of Le Pen, who met President Vladimir Putin in a surprise visit to Moscow ahead of the vote.

Germany

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman wished Macron “all the best for the next two weeks”.

“It’s good that Emmanuel Macron was successful with his course for a strong EU and social market economy,” Steffen Seibert said in a tweet.

Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel expressed confidence that the 39-year-old would be France’s next president.

Austria

The head of the Austrian farright FPOe, Heinz-Christian Strache, congratulated Le Pen on her “historic success”.

“Europe’s patriotic spring can celebrate another success and step forward ... The old established parties and their discredited representatives will gradually disappear into insignificance all across Europe,” he said on Facebook.

Britain

Former Conservative finance minister George Osborne, recently appointed editor of London’s Evening Standard newspaper, hailed a good result for the centre.

“Congratulations to my friend @EmmanuelMacron. Proof you can win from the centre. At last, the chance for the leadership that France needs,” he tweeted.

The Netherlands

Geert Wilders, Dutch MP and leader of the anti-Islam antiimmigrant Freedom Party, swung behind Le Pen, welcoming the result as a “bright day for patriots in France and elsewhere who want more national sovereignty and less EU and immigration. “I have just sent her my sincere congratulations,” he said.