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Emmanuel Macron, 44, has been re-elected as French president after defeating far-right rival Marine Le Pen in the second round of France's presidential election on Apr. 24.
With this win, Macron will serve as president for the next five years.
This is the first time in 20 years an incumbent president in the country has managed to get re-elected, according to France24.
Despite this, the BBC reported that the far-right has secured its highest share of the vote thus far.
Macron won with around 58 per cent of the vote, as compared to Le Pen's near 42 per cent.
In 2017, he defeated Le Pen with 66.9 per cent of the vote, compared to her 33.1 per cent, according to The New York Times.
European leaders congratulate Macron
Many European leaders took to Twitter to congratulate Macron for his victory.
UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted both in English and French:
"Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world."
Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 24, 2022
🇬🇧🇫🇷
Ukraine president Volodymr Zelensky also tweeted in French, saying that Macron is a "true friend" of Ukraine.
Félicitations à @EmmanuelMacron, un vrai ami de l’Ukraine, pour sa réélection! Je lui souhaite de nouveaux succès pour le bien du peuple 🇫🇷. J'apprécie son soutien et je suis convaincu que nous avançons ensemble vers de nouvelles victoires communes. Vers une Europe forte et unie!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2022
Belgium’s President Alexander De Croo put out a press release soon after Macron's win, saying that the French "made a strong choice".
Ce dimanche, les Français ont posé un choix fort. Ils ont opté pour des certitudes et pour les valeurs des Lumières.
— Alexander De Croo 🇧🇪🇪🇺 (@alexanderdecroo) April 24, 2022
Je félicite chaleureusement @EmmanuelMacron pour sa réelection et lui confirme notre besoin d'une Europe forte et solidaire. Nous serons au rendez-vous. pic.twitter.com/ZdxCi0jcwI
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, also tweeted his congratulations to Macron, saying: "The citizens have chosen a France committed to a free, strong and fair EU. Democracy wins. Europe wins."
Los ciudadanos han elegido una Francia comprometida con una UE libre, fuerte y justa.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 24, 2022
Gana la democracia. Gana Europa.
Enhorabuena @EmmanuelMacron. #Presidentielles2022
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Macron in a tweet which said: "I look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation. Together, we will move France and Europe forward."
Cher @EmmanuelMacron, toutes mes félicitations pour votre réélection à la présidence de la République.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 24, 2022
Je me réjouis de pouvoir continuer notre excellente coopération.
Ensemble, nous ferons avancer la France et l’Europe.
Meanwhile, Charles Michel, former Belgian Prime Minister and current President of the European Council, tweeted:
"Warm congratulations dear @EmmanuelMacron. In this turbulent period, we need a solid Europe and a France totally committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union. We can count on the #France #5 more years."
Chaleureux bravo cher @EmmanuelMacron
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) April 24, 2022
En cette période tourmentée, nous avons besoin d’une Europe solide et d’une France totalement engagée pour une Union européenne plus souveraine et plus stratégique.
Nous pouvons compter sur la #France #5 ans de plus. pic.twitter.com/JEPf6Pqght
Outside of Europe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and US President Joe Biden joined in the congratulations as well.
Congratulations, @EmmanuelMacron. Looking forward to continuing our work together on the issues that matter most to people in Canada and France – from defending democracy, to fighting climate change, to creating good jobs and economic growth for the middle class. pic.twitter.com/RHTBH4dn19
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 24, 2022
Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on his re-election. France is our oldest ally and a key partner in addressing global challenges. I look forward to our continued close cooperation — including on supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, and countering climate change.
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 24, 2022
Macron's victory speech
Following his win, Macron appeared in central Paris at the foot of the Eiffel Tower to give his victory speech to thousands of supporters.
Avec vous. Pour vous. Pour nous tous.https://t.co/lA5u4Sv82Q
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 24, 2022
As reported by The Guardian, Macron acknowledged that a number of French people who voted for him did so not because they support him, but to stop the ideas of the far-right.
He subsequently stated that he was no longer the candidate for one camp, but the "president for all".
Macron also addressed those who had voted for Le Pen in his speech and said that as president, he must find an answer to their "anger and disagreements".
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Top image screenshots via Emmanuel Macron/Twitter.
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