French election results - live: Macron win sparks protests, Le Pen ‘won’t give up’
Social media footage shows police using teargas on demonstrators
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Bitter demonstrations have broken out after Emmanuel Macron was re-elected as president of France on Sunday night.
Police charged and fired teargas at protesters, who took to the streets of Paris, Lyon, Montpellier and Toulouse to protest Mr Macron’s victory, which came despite a rise in popularity for the far-right leader Marine Le Pen.
Footage on social media showed protesters in Montpellier chanting “Ni Marine, Ni Macron,” meaning “neither Marine, nor Macron,” while bins were set aflame in Toulouse.
In Paris, at Place de la République, protesters could be heard comparing Macron to the last King of France, King Louis XVI.
They could be heard saying, in French: “Louis Sixteenth, Louis Sixteenth, we beheaded him, Macron, Macron, we can start again”.
Meanwhile, Ms Le Pen’s 41.5 per cent of the vote signals growing popularity for France’s far-right movement, a result not lost on Ms Le Pen.
“In this defeat, I can’t help but feel a form of hope,” she said. “I will never abandon the French.”
Follow live updates on the French election below
French celebrate Macron victory
Images have shown French people celebrating the victory for Emmanuel Macron.
See here:
28.1 per cent of voters abstained, polls say
Abstention rate is forecast to be 28.2 per cent, higher than the 2017 election, pollsters say:
Macron speaking
Emmanuel Macron is just about to speak to his supporters. Updates to follow.
‘Lot to do,’ finance minister says
Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minsiter, said the government had work to do after President Emmanuel Macron’s secured a second term in Sunday’s presidential election.
“There is a lot to do. We have to address inflation, the economy and reindustrialisation,” he told reporters.
Reuters
Macron arrives at gathering of supporters in Paris
Emmanuel Macron arrives at a gathering of his supporters at the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Exit polls now show Macron winning 58.8 per cent of votes
Pollsters have now increased the forecast margin of Emmanuel Macron’s win, putting it at 58.8 per cent of the votes.
Macron thanks French public
“Before anything else: thank you,” Emmanuel Macron tells a crowd outside the Eiffel Tower.
“After five years of changes - good and difficult ones - and expectional crises too, on this day of 24 April 2022, the majority of you have chosen to trust me to preside your Republic in the next five years,” he says.
Macron addresses far-right voters
Emmanuel Macron addresses those who voted for Marine Le Pen, saying he knows they will be disappointed tonight.
The crowd boos. The president shuts this down.
He acknowledges the “anger and discord” that led them to vote for her project and said it deserves a response.
Coming years will be ‘historic’, Macron says
"The coming years won’t be easy. But they will be historic,” Emmanuel Macron tells supporters.
He says: "It is with ambition and goodwill for our country - for all - I will be at your side to deal with the next five years.”
Police spray teargas on Paris protesters
Riot police charged and sprayed teargas on demonstrators in central Paris protesting after Emmanuel Macron was re-elected on Sunday, footage from social media showed.
Police sought to break up a crowd of mostly young people who had gathered in the central neighborhood of Chatelet to protest after Mr Macron beat far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a runoff vote, images on Twitter showed.
Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments