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Macron wins by margin of 65% to 35%, estimates suggest
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Voter turnout set to be lowest since 1969
All photos: AFP -
At 5pm turnout was 65.4% (well down on 71.9% in 2012)
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Crowds starting to arrive at Louvre for Macron’s event
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High security at Vincennes for Le Pen’s election night event
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Result to be announced at 8pm
20:50 – Merkel is the latest to send a message to Macron
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman welcomed Emmanuel Macron’s resounding win in France’s presidential election on Sunday as a “victory for a strong and united Europe”.
“Congratulations, @EmmanuelMacron. Your victory is a victory for a strong and united Europe and for French-German friendship,” wrote Steffen Seibert in French and German on Twitter.
Separately, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel hailed Macron’s win for keeping France “at the heart of Europe”.
“Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite! France chose that today. The great nation was, is, and remains in the middle and at the heart of Europe,” wrote Gabriel on Twitter, using France’s national slogan which means “liberty, equality, fraternity”.
Merkel and her government had thrown their support behind Macron against far-right and anti-EU challenger Marine Le Pen.
20:46 – A new chapter for France
French President-elect Emmanuel Macron told AFP that his victory in Sunday’s election represented “hope” and a “new chapter” for France.
“A new chapter in our long history begins tonight. I want it to be one of hope and renewed confidence,” Macron said.
20:36 – More quotes from Le Pen
Speaking to her supporters in the Bois de Vincennes, Le Pen struck an optimistic tone, focusing on the party’s “historic” result at 35 percent. “I want to thank the 11 milion French people who gave me their vote and their trust,” she said.
She also thanked France Stand Up candidate and fellow eurosceptic Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, and hinted at future collaboration between the two parties saying “The National Front is engaged in a strategy of alliance.”
She promised that the movement would undergo a “profound transformation” to create a “new political force”.
She also highlighted how the party will try their best to make sure Emmanuel Macron’s job is not an easy one.
“Our patriotic and republican alliance will be the primary force of opposition to the programme of the new president,” she told the crowd, calling to “all the patriots” to join the movement.
20:29 – World leaders congratulate Emmanuel Macron
François Hollande has warmly congratulated Macron on his win as as British Prime Minister Theresa May.
The EU’s Jean-Claude Juncker has hailed France’s voters for choosing a European future.
20:26 – Just how did Emmanuel Macron do it?
From elite high school student to adviser to minister to rebel to chancer to president of France.
This is how Emmanuel Macron became France’s youngest ever president.
How Emmanuel Macron went from top of the class to president of France
20:24 – The Louvre is in patriotic mood
An elated crowd at the Louvre, but also a very noticeable feeling of relief, says The Local’s Oliver Gee who is at the scene.
Some told The Local that it was a relief to get the win, others that Le Pen lost.
“It’s a relief to see that Le Pen has such a low score. It was obvious Macron would win but 65 percent is very good news. Now we have a new president with a whole new movement. I’m very excited now to see if he gets supported by everyone in France. We know we have a divided country but I hope he is given the opportunity to do what he wants to do to lead France,” says Casimir, a 27-year-old entrepreneur in Paris.
The flags are still occasionally waving, and I’ve heard the national anthem once, but the rest of the real cheers are being saved for Macron’s appearance, scheduled for 10pm.
20:22 – More reaction from Macron supporters
20:20 – Macron: new ‘chapter for France’
Winner Emmanuel Macron has told AFP that a new “hopeful and confident chapter begins for France”.
20:15 – Le Pen concedes defeat
The losing candidate congratulated Macron and heralded the fact her party has become France’s first party of opposition.
She wishes Macron “success faced with huge challenges”.
Le Pen’s speech is short and sweet. Defiant to the end.
20:10 – Macron has called Marine Le Pen
The two candidates have exchanged what was described as a cordial phone call. Le Pen will no doubt concede defeat shortly
20:06 – The celebrations have begun at the Louvre
20:05 – Macron is France’s new head of state
The 39-year-old former banker set to become France’s youngest ever president after gaining a decisive lead over Marine Le Pen.
20:00 Emmanuel Macron elected president of France
Macron wins by 65% to 35%
19:55 – Follow us on Facebook where we will be live from the Louvre
Our reporter Oliver Gee is about go live at the Louvre.
Follow him here.
https://www.facebook.com/thelocalfrance/
19:53 – Both Le Pen and Macron will speak in the next hour
We’ll bring you reaction from the winner and the loser as soon as they pick up the mic. Le Pen is expected to speak first.
19:50 – Mammoth French election campaign almost over
There’s ten minutes to go before this mammoth French election campaign comes to an end. It feels like it started a few days after François Hollande was elected in 2012.
It’s had everything.
The 14 standout moments of the 2017 French election campaign
19:45 – Atmosphere building at the Louvre
Official first estimate is just 15 minutes away but the atmosphere is building at the Louvre, where Emmanuel MAcron’s supporters are gathering.
They think they are going to be on the winning team.
Source:Thelocal.fr