THE pro-European centrist, Emmanuel Macron, and the anti-immigration, far-right Marine Le Pen have begun a final duel for the French Presidency after anti-establishment anger knocked France’s traditional political parties out of the race.
Macron took 23.75 percent votes and Le Pen won 21.53 percent – the highest ever score for the Front National. Deep Divisions will mark the second-round runoff on May 7 in a country angry at its political class and struggling with unemployment and economic unease. More than 40 percent of voters chose Eurosceptic candidates – including Le Pen, the hard-left Mélenchon and other candidates.
European politicians rallied around Macron, as the Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, broke protocol to personally wish the independent candidate well in the next round. The EU’s Chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, described Macron as a “Patriot and European” who he felt confident would win against Le Pen. Barnier added: “France must remain European.”
Macron, 39, a political novice, is the clear favourite to be elected as France’s next president. His initial victory came after voters in The Netherlands rejected Euroceptics party in election last month. It also puts favourable message for Germany’s Angela Markel facing tough election in September on anti-immigration issue. The issue at stake is whether Europe will continue as a lose federation on liberal values as against populist protectionism behind closed border.
After the UK’s vote to leave the European Union and the US voted for political novice Donald Trump as President, the French presidential race is the latest election to shake up establishment politics by kicking out figures that stood for the status quo. The historic first-round result marked the rejection of the ruling political class – it was the first time since the postwar period that the traditional left and right ruling parties were both ejected in the first round. But voters at the same time appear to be favouring living in a united Europe what Macron stands for.
Le Pen has no political ally and trying to use patriotic slogan to win the second round. But Macron emerged as the new generation leader most French men are putting their hope in him to bring about a revival in French society.
The twist towards rightwing across Europe and the US is the result of years of alienation of the working class by the politicians who resemble the elite to them. The working classes of the Western World feel that the politicians have betrayed them by liberalizing free trade making it easy for countries like China to reign supreme in the manufacturing sector and take their jobs.
French is terribly affected by militant attacks, the latest being carried out only few days before Sunday’s election killing a police officer. Many had feared it would add winds to Le Pen’s anti-immigration and anti-Muslim policies. But French voters proved that they don’t go by emotion but by multi-racial values although their plight is too big now to live with the liberal values. We must say the initial results of this election suggest that European unity will survive at the end but the Union must do the necessary reform to end Eurosceptics fear about it.
Macron took 23.75 percent votes and Le Pen won 21.53 percent – the highest ever score for the Front National. Deep Divisions will mark the second-round runoff on May 7 in a country angry at its political class and struggling with unemployment and economic unease. More than 40 percent of voters chose Eurosceptic candidates – including Le Pen, the hard-left Mélenchon and other candidates.
European politicians rallied around Macron, as the Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, broke protocol to personally wish the independent candidate well in the next round. The EU’s Chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, described Macron as a “Patriot and European” who he felt confident would win against Le Pen. Barnier added: “France must remain European.”
Macron, 39, a political novice, is the clear favourite to be elected as France’s next president. His initial victory came after voters in The Netherlands rejected Euroceptics party in election last month. It also puts favourable message for Germany’s Angela Markel facing tough election in September on anti-immigration issue. The issue at stake is whether Europe will continue as a lose federation on liberal values as against populist protectionism behind closed border.
After the UK’s vote to leave the European Union and the US voted for political novice Donald Trump as President, the French presidential race is the latest election to shake up establishment politics by kicking out figures that stood for the status quo. The historic first-round result marked the rejection of the ruling political class – it was the first time since the postwar period that the traditional left and right ruling parties were both ejected in the first round. But voters at the same time appear to be favouring living in a united Europe what Macron stands for.
Le Pen has no political ally and trying to use patriotic slogan to win the second round. But Macron emerged as the new generation leader most French men are putting their hope in him to bring about a revival in French society.
The twist towards rightwing across Europe and the US is the result of years of alienation of the working class by the politicians who resemble the elite to them. The working classes of the Western World feel that the politicians have betrayed them by liberalizing free trade making it easy for countries like China to reign supreme in the manufacturing sector and take their jobs.
French is terribly affected by militant attacks, the latest being carried out only few days before Sunday’s election killing a police officer. Many had feared it would add winds to Le Pen’s anti-immigration and anti-Muslim policies. But French voters proved that they don’t go by emotion but by multi-racial values although their plight is too big now to live with the liberal values. We must say the initial results of this election suggest that European unity will survive at the end but the Union must do the necessary reform to end Eurosceptics fear about it.
