Emmanuel Macron prepares groundwork for transition to power

Adjust Comment Print

Macron's sound defeat of far-right rival Marine Le Pen in the run-off vote is "very good news for France", said Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the influential Conference of European Rabbis.

Despite Le Pen's efforts to purge her National Front (FN) party of the anti-Semitism which became its trademark under the leadership of her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, the party continues to court controversy over the issue.

Meanwhile, unions on Monday protested outside Paris' Place de la Republique claiming pro-business Macron was a traitor for threatening blue-collar worker protections with economic reforms, the Associated Press reported. She was directing him in a school play and was married with children.

Also, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada said: "congratulations @EmmanuelMacron on your historic election win". Symbolically, Macron also said German Chancellor Angela Merkel will be the first foreign leader he will meet as president.

Many of those who voted for him did so to stop Marine Le Pen.

In his victory speech, he said that he understands the divisions within France and that he respects them.

If another party wins a majority, Macron could be pressured to choose a prime minister from that party, a situation the French call "cohabitation". Usually the electorate gives the President they have elected a Parliamentary majority, and the presidential and parliamentary elections were synchronised in 2000 to support this outcome.

Other high-ranking figures in the Italian government also interpreted Macron's victory as a vote of confidence in the EU.

Le Pen's "France first", anti-Europe message struck a chord with great swathes of the country.

Was the FBI Director Just Fired For Not Understanding Email?
Clinton said last week she believed that controversial decision contributed to her loss. I appreciate Director Comey's service to our nation in a variety of roles.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani told AFP: "We have received a vote of confidence from France in the European Union".

Macron was endorsed by former President Barack Obama, and their similarities are striking: youth, a hopeful attitude toward the future, a vaguely progressive spirit of moderation and a well-advertised desire to overcome traditional divides.

The pan-European STOXX 600 index was down 0.2 percent, while France's CAC fell 0.4 percent after hitting its highest levels in more than 9 years and the German DAX was flat, holding near record highs.

Macron's challenge in his five-year term will be to end years of high unemployment and sluggish growth, deal with the terrorist threat that has traumatized the country and, ultimately, restore faith in the political establishment.

Now Le Pen vows to go further with more changes to reach an even wider spectrum of voters, "those who choose France, defend its independence, its freedom, its prosperity, its security, its identity and its social model".

Where does this leave Le Pen?

But Sunday night at the Louvre, where Macron supporters gathered in what was once the seat of French kings, supporters were upbeat for their candidate's victory party.

"I think we were all afraid that Le Pen could actually win", he said.

Comments