World’s media hail thumping win of pro-EU centrist

PARIS: The world’s media largely hailed the thumping victory of pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron in France’s presidential election, but sounded a note of caution about the task ahead.

Here is some early global reaction from the press on Macron’s victory over far right rival Marine Le Pen to become the country’s youngest ever president.

The Financial Times hailed Macron’s win but cautioned that “Macron’s victory is incomplete” and warned that the electoral race “legitimized the French far right as never before.”

“If Mr. Macron should stumble, it is altogether unclear what solution might keep Ms Le Pen at bay in 2022,” the paper wrote.

The Guardian similarly warned of a tough road ahead but also saluted French voters, saying they had made Europe safer through their choice of Macron.

“French voters have averted the catastrophe of a Marine Le Pen presidency. The task for Emmanuel Macron is to deliver change, prosperity, unity and healing,” the paper wrote.

An early edition front page of Liberation, the left-leaning French newspaper, simply declared “Well played,” alongside a portrait of Macron.

“Macron elected,” it said on its website, alongside several pictures of the 39-year-old. “I will do all I can to be worthy of your trust and confidence,” it quoted Macron as saying.

Le Monde’s website carried Macron’s picture in the foreground, with defeated rival Le Pen in shadow. “I will defend France, its vital interests. Its image,” its headline quoted him saying.

Conservative German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said “Europe has avoided the nightmare.”

“The unthinkable has been avoided: France will not be led by a woman of the far-right. The clear victory of Emmanuel Macron provides reassurance, but Europe must not be under any illusions.”