Macron defeats his rival Marie Le Pen to win second term as French President

Europe, News April 25, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

French President Emmanuel Macron defeated his far-right rival and presidential opponent Marie Le Pen on April 25 to secure a second term as the President of France.

Soon after the results started to out and it became evident, Emmanuel Macron came out at the foot of the Eiffel tower to speak to his supporters who had gathered in the Champ de Mars park to watch the results on a giant screen.

Macron won the second term becoming the first leader in the last 20 years and the eighth French president to acquire a second term in the office. According to the initial projections, Macron had gathered 58.2% of the total votes against Le Pen who secured 41.8% votes.

In 2017, when Macron and Le Pen faced off for the presidential office for the first time, Macron defeated Le Pen with a heavier margin, 66% to 33%. Voters’ turnout was also decreased in this election compared to that in 2017, as 28% of the total voters abstained from voting.

During his victory speech at the Eiffel tower, Macron vowed to respond efficiently in order to address the anger and disagreement of his former voters who chose to vote for the far-right leader in this election. He also called on his current supporters to be kind and respectful towards his former supporters because “the country is already riven by doubt and division.”

The losing far-right National Rally party’s presidential nominee, Marie Le Pen also spoke to her supporters after the results came out. She said that the results are in reality “a striking victory” of her ideas. Referring to a significant increase in her margins, she stated that her party’s vision and her ideas “have reached new heights”. She further added that “In this defeat, I can’t help but feel a hope.”

*^{A TV screen displays the debate between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen. (Image Credit: Ludovic Marin/AFP)}*

Several European leaders welcomed the pro-European Union President of France for sustaining a second term in the office against the nationalist and Eurosceptic Le Pen. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Macron by stating that the “French voters have sent a strong vote of confidence in Europe today. I am happy that we will continue our good cooperation.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Johnson also congratulated the French President Macron with a sigh of relief on the pro-European centrist’s re-election.

Against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and western sanctions that came as a result, Europe has seen an unprecedented increase in fuel prices. Le Pen’s presidential campaign revolved around the rising cost of living in France. She promised to detach the French economy from the European economy to create more jobs and income sources for the French people with the “French first” ideology. She also promised to put a tax cut on all essential items.

Macron’s political campaign focused more on France’s international relations, especially in the times when war is waging in Europe. Macron pointed out that Le Pen’s admiration for authorization leaders and especially for Russian President Vladimir Putin shows that she cannot be trusted on an international stage to represent France.