Macron Becomes French President

By: Laura Steiner

Emmanuel Macron is the next President of France.  Macron, leader of En Marche, won the second round of voting with 65.8% of the vote over the leader Marnie Le Pen of the Front National.  The results were final earlier today

Macron used his victory speech to begin building coalitions.  “I will do my best to make sure that in five years there is no need to vote for extremists,” he told an audience at the Louvre.

Le Pen’s Front National was known  for its right-wing populist views including taking France from the European Union.  She resigned her leadership following the first round of voting in order to focus on building a coalition.

“You have chosen audacity, and this audacity we will pursue it every single day,” Macron said.  He is a banker who has never held political office before.  At 39, he is France’s youngest President, and the youngest leader since Napoleon Bonaparte.

Trudeau Congratulates Macron

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among the first leaders to offer congratulations.  “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,” Trudeau said

US President Donald Trump extended his greetings through Twitter.  “I look very much forward to working with him!” he said.  Press Secretary put out a more diplomatic statement.  “We look forward to working with the new President and continuing our close cooperation with the French government,” he said.

In Britain, 10 Downing St. released a statement on behalf of Prime Minister Theresa May.  “France is one of our closest allies and we look forward to working with the new president on a wide range of shared priorities,” it read.

French parliamentary elections will take place next year.