I’ll defend Europe vows new French president Macron
EMMANUEL Macron last night vowed to ‘ defend Europe’ moments after becoming France’s youngest leader since Napoleon.
Europhile Mr Macron, 39, stormed into the Elysee Palace with 65.5 per cent of the vote compared to Marine Le Pen’s 34.5 per cent.
The ex-finance minister, who created his En Marche! party just last year, took to the stage as the European anthem Ode to Joy was played, and later stood next to an EU flag as he told supporters: ‘i will defend Europe.’
Mr Macron has vowed not to give the UK an easy Brexit deal and previously branded Britain’s departure from the EU ‘a crime’.
As he was declared the president elect, Miss Le Pen vowed to ‘renew’ her far-Right party the National Front, and could even change its name.
Despite his warnings on Brexit, Theresa May ‘warmly’ congratulated Mr Macron, adding: ‘France is one of our closest allies and we look forward to working with the new president on a wide range of shared priorities.’
Just last week Mr Macron warned Brexit would not be ‘a walk in the park’. Visiting Downing street in February, he said: ‘An exit is an exit. i am very determined there will be no undue advantages.’
And in October, he said he didn’t want Britain to have ‘the best of two worlds’ as that would be an incentive for other countries to leave.
Mr Macron’s victory saw France enter uncharted political territory as its two traditional leading parties were knocked out of the race.
But the fact Miss Le Pen came second in the most uncertain French election in years illustrates the rise of the far-Right in France, as in other European countries, partly due to the growing terror threat.
Addressing cheering crowds at a raucous victory rally at the Louvre museum, Mr Macron said: ‘This is a new democratic landscape. Today you’ve agreed to put your trust in me and it’s a great honour and responsibility.’
he also addressed Miss Le Pen’s supporters, saying they had ‘expressed an anger’, adding: ‘i respect them and i will do everything in the five years that come for there to be no reason to vote for extremists... Today there are just the French... France reunited.’ he faces a challenging five years, with the terror threat facing France greater than ever before. Paris is still reeling from the shooting of a police officer last month and from the 2015 attacks.
Miss Le Pen had accused Mr Macron of having ‘no plan’ on terror, but last night he pledged France ‘will be in the front row of the fight against terrorism on its own soil and abroad’.
Mr Macron also said he would work to ‘reform our Europe’.
his choice of location, a former royal palace and major landmark, led many to believe he had anticipated his win. Mr Macron’s former teacher christian Monjou, 67, said of the location: ‘it’s the essence of French culture. he has always been obsessed with the president being a leading protective force – like the kings.’
Us President Donald Trump offered congratulations, while German chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief of staff Peter Altmaier said on Twitter: ‘Long live France, long live Europe!’
‘New democratic landscape’