Macron wins but far right fears remain

Emmanuel Macron may have comfortably won re-election to a second term as French president but the election has been taken as a worrying indication that the far right has gone “mainstream”.

The result triggered relief among France’s allies that the nuclear-armed nation will not abruptly shift course in the midst of the war in Ukraine from EU and Nato efforts to punish and contain Russia’s military attacks. The second five-year term for the 44-year-old centrist spared France and Europe from the upheaval of having populist Marine Le Pen at the helm.

The presidential run-off challenger quickly conceded defeat but achieved her best-ever electoral showing.

Acknowledging that “numerous” voters cast ballots for him simply to keep out the nationalist far-right Ms Le Pen, Mr Macron pledged to reunite the country that is “filled with so many doubts, so many divisions”. “No one will be left by the side of the road,” Mr Macron said in a victory speech against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower.

During her campaign, Ms Le Pen pledged to dilute French ties with the EU, Nato and Germany, moves that would have shaken Europe’s security architecture as the continent deals with its worst conflict since the Second World War.

Ms Le Pen also spoke out against EU sanctions on Russian energy supplies, and faced scrutiny over her previous friendliness with the Kremlin.

A chorus of European leaders hailed Mr Macron’s victory, since France has played a leading role in international efforts to punish Russia with sanctions.

“Democracy wins, Europe wins,” said Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez.

“Together we will make France and Europe advance,” tweeted European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

Mr Macron won with 58.5% of the vote to Ms Le Pen’s 41.5% – significantly closer than when they first faced off in 2017 – and is the first French president in 20 years to win reelection. But Ms Le Pen called her results “a shining victory,” saying that “in this defeat, I can’t help but feel a form of hope”.

Breaking through the threshold of 40% of the vote is unprecedented for the French far right.

VICTORY SPEECH: Emmanuel Macron addresses the crowd following his re-election.