Macron And Le Pen Square Off In French Presidential Election As Voters Head To Polls

PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron won a second term in office on Sunday, according to election officials. Following Russia's aggression in Ukraine, the results assure the European Union of the stability of the leadership of the one-wing nuclear power bloc, which was immediately praised by France's allies.

For the moderate Macron, the second five-year term saved France and its allies from a wartime quake of power by Macron's popular rival, Marine Le Pen, who quickly conceded defeat Sunday night but was still in street. . Performance. Because of his highly nationalist far-right policy.

In her campaign, Le Pen promised to cut France's 27-nation relationship with the European Union, NATO and Germany, which would shake Europe's security architecture in the face of the continent's worst conflict since World War II. Le Pen also spoke out against EU sanctions on Russia's energy supplies, saying she was in control of the campaign because of her friendship with the Kremlin.

Following the victory of the French president at the Champs de Marseille in Paris, supporters of the French presidential election on April 24, 2022 reacted to French President Emmanuel Macron. By Bertrand Guy / AFPGetty Images

A chorus of European leaders applauded Macron's victory. "Democracy has won, Europe has won," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter: "Together we will move France and Europe forward."

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called Macron's victory "good news for all of Europe" and said the EU was "one of the biggest challenges of our time, starting with the war in Ukraine".

With more than three-quarters of the vote counted, Macron went from 55% to 45% in favor of Le Pen. Counting all the votes, the polling agency predicted that Macron's victory margin would be more than 10 points, even less than in 2017 when they first faced him.

Macron is the first French president to win re-election in 20 years since the dismissal of Jacques Chirac Le Pen's father in 2002.

Le Pen described her result as a "brilliant victory" and said "I can not help but feel a sense of hope in this loss."

Breaking the threshold of 40% of the vote is unprecedented for the French right. Macron won 66% to 34% of Le Pen in 2017 and got less than 20% against his father Chirac.

French President Emmanuel Macron left the Le Touquet polling station on Sunday, April 24, 2022. Gonzalo Fuentes / AP

He and left-wing leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, one of 10 candidates suspended in the first round on April 10, appeared in the French legislature Sunday night in June, demanding that voters give Macron a parliamentary majority.

Le Pen's result rewards her many years of efforts to make her far-right politics more enjoyable for voters this time around. After a tough campaign on the cost of living, he has worked extensively among coalition-neutral voters in rural communities and former industrial centers.

Refusing to support Macron compared to five years ago is a fierce struggle for the president to pursue people in his second term. Many French voters thought the 2022 presidential meeting was as credible as the 2017 one, when Macron was an unknown factor.

Left-wing voters, who could not be identified with the central president or Le Pen's powerful patriotic platform, were often touched by Sunday's perspective. Some went reluctantly to the ballot box just to stop Le Pen from voting for Macron.

"It was the worst option," said Stephanie David, a transport worker who sided with the communist candidate in the first round.

This was an impossible opportunity for retiree Jean-Pierre Rox. After voting for the Communist Party in the first round, he threw a blank envelope at polling stations on Sunday, angry with both Le Pen's policies and what he called Macron's arrogance.

"I'm not against his idea, but I can not stand people," said Roux.

Instead, Marian Tree, who voted in Paris, voted for Macron to "avoid a government that considers itself fascist, racist."

"There is a real danger," said the 29-year-old.

Macron went to the polls with a big lead, but faced frustrated, worried and tired voters. The war in Ukraine and the Covid-19 epidemic have hit Macron in his first term, as well as months of violent protests against his economic policies.

Le Pen called on working-class voters to fight rising prices, vowing to reduce the cost of living would be its priority, and arguing that Macron's presidency had deeply divided the country.

Macron wanted to draw voters away from immigrant traditions and religious minorities, especially as Le Pen proposed policies aimed at Muslims and placing French citizens at the forefront of jobs and benefits. He also praised the achievement of the environment and climate in attracting young voters to vote for the left-wing candidates in the first round.

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