Putin holds out olive branch to poll winner
MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin told France’s President-elect Emmanuel Macron on Monday he wanted to put mistrust aside and work with him, in a change of tack after the Kremlin expressed support for Macron’s rivals in the presidential race.
“The citizens of France have trusted you with leading the country at a difficult time for Europe and the whole world community,” Putin told Macron, whose staff had accused Russia during the campaign of trying to damage their candidate.
The Kremlin said Putin told Macron in a congratulatory telegram: “The growth in threats of terrorism and militant extremism is accompanied by an escalation of local conflicts and the destabilization of whole regions.
“In these conditions it is especially important to overcome mutual mistrust and unite efforts to ensure international stability and security.”
Here is a selection of comments from other world leaders and political heavyweights on Macron’s election victory:
“Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next president of France. I look very much forward to working with him,” President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter.
“Prime Minister Theresa May warmly congratulates Presidentelect 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.
May also discussed Brexit with
MMacron, sayingi “the“th UK wantst a strong partnership with a secure and prosperous EU once we leave,” the spokesman added.
“Happy that the French chose a European future,” European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker wrote on Twitter.
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.”
European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said: ““W We haveh receivedid a votet of f confidence from France in the European Union.”
President Xi Jinping congratulated Macron, saying the two countries share a “responsibility toward peace and development in the world.”
“China stands ready to work with France to move the strategic Sino-French partnership to a higher level,” Xi said in a congratulatory note, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said “the victory of President- electl tM Macron isi a symbolicb li victoryit against inward-looking and protectionist moves and shows a vote of confidence in the EU.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi offered congratulations, voicing hope that relations “expand in the new era after this election based on groundwork laid during recent years.”
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 tech- nology,l andd createt good,d middleiddl class jobs on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras said Macron’s victory was “an inspiration for France and for Europe,” adding he was “sure we will work closely together.”
“Congratulations to @ EmmanuelMacron, new president of #France. Let us work in France and Spain for a stable, prosperous and more integrated Europe,” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a tweet.