How World Reacts to French Presidential Election


How World Reacts to French Presidential Election

TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Emmanuel Macron surged to victory against Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election on Sunday. The election had huge repurcussions for France, the EU, Britain and the wider world.

Ms. Le Pen had vowed to ditch the euro and hold a referendum on France's EU membership, while Mr. Macron wants closer cooperation between the bloc's 28 nations.

The election had huge repurcussions for France, the EU, Britain and the wider world. Here is how world leaders reacted to the result:

US: Donald Trump

The US president was quick to congratulate Mr. Macron and said he looked forward to working with him, The Telegraph reported.

Mr. Trump had previously expressed support for Ms. Le Pen because she was “strongest on borders, and she’s the strongest on what’s been going on in France”.

In a statement White House press secretary Sean Spicer said: "We congratulate President-elect Macron and the people of France on their successful presidential election. We look forward to working with the new President and continuing our close cooperation with the French government."

Paul Ryan, the US House speaker, also took to twitter to congratulate Mr. Macron: "Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron. We look forward to working with him to build on the strong relationship between the US and France."

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton hailed the result as a a victory for "France, the EU, & the world."

"Defeat to those interfering w/democracy. (But the media says I can't talk about that)" Mrs. Clinton added in an apparent reference to several attempts to derail Mr. Macron's campaign by hacking its communications and distributing purportedly leaked documents. The attempts were reminiscent of the hacking of Democratic Party communications during Mrs. Clinton's US election campaign.

UK: Theresa May

Prime Minister Theresa May discussed Brexit with Mr. Macron following his election victory on Sunday, her Downing Street office said.

In comments released immediately after exit polls showed Mr. Macron's victory, Mrs. May said that France is one of Britain's closest allies and "we look forward to working with the new president on a wide range of shared priorities".

"This evening the Prime Minister spoke to President-elect Macron to warmly congratulate him on his election victory," a spokesman said.

"The leaders briefly discussed Brexit and the Prime Minister reiterated that the UK wants a strong partnership with a secure and prosperous EU once we leave," the spokesman added.

Downing Street praised "the UK and France's unique partnership providing a strong foundation for future co-operation", ahead of Britain starting talks to end its membership of the European Union.

"The Prime Minister and President-elect Macron looked forward to meeting and holding discussions at the upcoming Nato and G7 summits," the statement said.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said Mr. Macron's defeat of National Front leader Marine Le Pen has kept the far-right "wolves from our door".

Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn did not congratulate Mr. Macron by name but said: "I am delighted that the French people have decisively rejected Le Pen's politics of hate."

Former Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair said the centrist French leader's "superlative victory" was "great news for France and Europe".

Mr. Blair added: "His campaign and the substantial majority he achieved shows that the centre ground is alive and kicking and the place where elections can still be fought and won by progressive politics."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who travelled to Paris for talks with Mr. Macron in March, said: "The French people have chosen hope over fear and unity over division."

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Vive La France. Congratulations to new president, Emmanuel Macron on his decisive victory over the hard right."

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson hailed Mr. Macron's "amazing victory" and added: "We look forward to continuing the great partnership between our two nations."

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who backed Ms. Le Pen's bid for the Elysee Palace, said: "Macron offers five more years of failure, more power to the EU and a continuation of open borders.

"If Marine sticks in there, she can win in 2022."

Germany: Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said: "Your victory is a victory for a strong united Europe and for the Franco-German friendship."

Mr. Macron had a 10-minute phone conversation with Mrs. Merkel, his first with a foreign leader after his victory, telling her that he would travel to Berlin "very quickly," a source close to him said, describing it as a "very warm" exchange.

The chancellor's chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, tweeted: "vive la France, Vive L'Europe!"

Mrs. Merkel's chief spokesman, Steffen Seibert, also tweeted in French "felicitations" (congratulations). He said it was "a victory for a strong and united Europe".

EU: Jean-Claude Juncker

Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, said the result made him "happy that the ideas that you defended of a strong and progressive Europe that protects all its citizens will be those that France will cherish under your presidency".

Donald Tusk, the former Polish prime minister who chairs summits of European leaders, tweeted: "Congratulations to French people for choosing Liberty, Equality and Fraternity over tyranny of fake news" - an apparent reference to misleading stories about Mr. Macron that were spread on social media in the run-up to the vote.

Guy Verhofstadt, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, said: "We supported him from the very start. I am relieved by his defeat of demagoguery and populism. I am also proud of his commitment to a social, liberal European project."

Canada: Justin Trudeau

Mr. Macron also spoke later to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, his aides said.

"I look forward to working closely with President-elect Macron in the years ahead as we work together on a progressive agenda to promote international security, increase collaboration in science and technology, and create good, middle class jobs on both sides of the Atlantic," the Canadian prime minister said in a statement.

"This also includes implementing the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement."

"Canada and France share a warm and historic relationship, rooted in our common history, deep cultural ties, people-to-people connections, and strong economic partnership," Mr. Trudeau added.

He pledged more cooperation on issues such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, G7, G20 and La Francophonie, the international organization of French-speaking countries.

China: Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, sent a “congratulatory message” on Monday to Emmanuel Macron, state news agency Xinhua said.

President Xi said in his message that China-France relations have been “developing steadily, healthily and consistently in recent years."

He added: “China and France bear special important responsibilities to world peace and development. “China is willing to work with the French side to push the close and sustaining China-France comprehensive strategic partnership to a higher level.”

Italy: Paolo Gentiloni and Matteo Renzi

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni tweeted: "Hurrah Macron President! There is hope for Europe!"

The country's former Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, echoed Mr. Gentiloni's message saying: "Macron's win represents an extraordinary hope for France and Europe! #EnMarche! #incammino".

Mr. Renzi was recently elected to head of the ruling Democratic Party and campaigned with the slogan In Cammino (on the way), drawing comparisons to Mr. Macron’s En Marche.

Netherlands: Mark Rutte

Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister who won an election in March against opponents including right-wing populist Geert Wilders, has congratulated Mr. Macron on his victory.

Mr. Rutte said in a post on his official Facebook page that in Macron, French voters "made a clear progressive and pro-European choice." He said that "a choice for cooperation within Europe in areas where that is necessary, instead of an inward-looking vision."

In a tweet Sunday night, Dutch foreign affairs mMinister Bert Koenders said that "France chooses for reform, for Europe and against xenophobia. We look forward to working together with the new French government."

Spain: Mariano Rajoy

Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, said that France, with Emmanuel Macron as its new president, will help strengthen the European Union at a key moment for the 28-nation bloc.

In a telegram sent on Sunday to congratulate the new president-elect of France, Mr. Rajoy praised Mr. Macron for his proposed reforms and his "firm defense of the European integration process."

Those principles and his solid backing from French voters, Mr. Rajoy said, mean "France - a friend, neighbor and strategic partner of Spain - will actively contribute to the advancement and reinforcement of the European Union in a key moment of its history."

Greece: Alexis Tsipras

Alexis Tsipras, Greece's prime minister, has tweeted his satisfaction over the election result: "victory is a fresh breath for France and the whole of Europe. I am certain we will work closely together for Europe to change course, inspire its people again so as to never again experience the nightmare of the extreme right."

Czech Republic: Bohuslav Sobotka

Bohuslav Sobotka, the Czech prime minister, said that Mr. Macron's win is a "positive signal for France, the entire European Union and the Czech Republic."

Mr. Sobotka said that the French people "made it clear they reject nationalism, populism, and the isolation of their country. Most voters decided that they want a president who will represent a modern and open France."

Slovakia: Andrej Kiska

Andrej Kiska, the Slovak President, welcomed the French centrist's win: "Warm congratulations to Emmanuel Macron and to the people of France." Kiska says it's a "victory for all who believe in Europe."

Slovak foreign minister Miroslav Lajcak says he was "delighted to learn of Emmanuel Macron's victory."

Australia: Malcolm Turnbull

Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian prime minister, also congratulated Mr. Macron on his win: "Congratulations @EmmanuelMacron on your historic election win. We will build even stronger ties between our two great nations."

Russia: Alexei Navalny

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny commented on Twitter: "Spartak-champions, Marcon-president. A good day."

Macron has promised a France that would stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin but that also would seek to work with Putin on fighting the Islamic State group, whose extremists have claimed or inspired multiple attacks in France since 2015.

Most Visited in World
Top World stories
Top Stories