French election results - live: Macron win sparks protests, Le Pen ‘won’t give up’
Social media footage shows police using teargas on demonstrators
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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
Macron says ‘responsability’ to address what drove voters to support far-right
Emmanuel Macron tells the crowd in Paris: “I know for a number of our compatriot that have chosen today the extreme right, the anger and disagreement that led them to vote for this project, must find a response.
“That is my responsibility and those who surround me.”
Macron’s first phone call after re-election was German chancellor
The first phone call Emmanuel Macron held after his re-election on Sunday was with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Elysee presidential office said.
“Chancellor Scholz called the oresident to congratulate him”, the Elysee said in a statement, adding: “It was the first call taken by the President, a mark of Franco-German friendship.”
Reuters
Justin Trudeau congratulates Macron
The Canadian president has said he looks forward to continuing his work with Emmanuel Macron:
Nicola Sturgeon congratulates Macron on his win
Scotland’s First Minister has congratulated Emmanuel Macron after his re-election as president of France.
Mr Macron’s rival, far-right nationalist Marine Le Pen, conceded on Sunday night.
Nicola Sturgeon congratulated Mr Macron on winning a second second term, and said: “I am delighted that the Scottish and French governments continue to work in close partnership on the issues shared by our two countries, such as climate change, biodiversity, culture and our common European values.”
Macron vows to lead France through ‘historic’ next five years in presidential victory speech
Emmanuel Macron has vowed to lead France through “historic” years to come after being re-elected as president.
The 44-year-old said he would tackle the next five years with “ambition and goodwill” and leave no one behind as he took to the stage following his election victory.
“I’m not the candidate of one faction anymore, but the president for all of us,” Mr Macron said.
The centrist president addressed supporters outside the Eiffel Tower shortly after the first exit polls predicted he would win the 2022 presidential election.
Le Pen concedes election but warns Macron ‘will do nothing to repair division’ in France
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said she would keep up the fight against Emmanuel Macron just as she conceded defeat in the presidential election.
An Ipsos poll gave Mr Macron 58.2% of the vote and Marine Le Pen 41.8%, a decisive victory despite doubts about the current president’s handling of the economy and ability to connect with voters, and despite a lower-than-usual turnout.
“I will continue the fight for France and the French people,” Ms Le Pen told supporters in a defiant speech shortly after the exit poll was announced on Sunday evening.
“I fear the next five years will not break with the contempt and the brutal policies of the last five years and Emmanuel Macron will do nothing to repair the divisions in our country.”
Ukraine’s Zelensky congratulates ‘true friend’ Macron on election win
Ukraine’s leader has congratulated Macron on winning a second term.
Volodymy Zelenskyy called Macron “a true friend of Ukraine”on Sunday and expressed appreciation for his support.
Tweeting in French, Mr Zelenskyy said: “I’m convinced that we will advance together toward new joint victories. Toward a strong and united Europe!”
Mr Macron has sought a diplomatic solution to Russia’s war and his country has sent significant weapons to Ukraine with more planned.
In a TV debate ahead of Sunday’s runoff, Mr Macron assailed Marine Le Pen’s past ties to Russia, notably a loan her party got from a Russian-Czech bank in 2014.
Leaders congratulate Macron on historic win
Outside France, Mr Macron's victory was hailed as a reprieve for mainstream politics rocked in recent years by Britain's exit from the European Union, the 2016 election of Donald Trump and the rise of a new generation of nationalist leaders.
"Bravo Emmanuel," European Council President Charles Michel, wrote on Twitter. "In this turbulent period, we need a solid Europe and a France totally committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union."
"Congratulations to the President and a true friend EmmanuelMacron on the election victory," Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on his Twitter account in early hours on Monday.
Read the full story here.
When will the French election results be announced?
First projections show French president Emmanuel Macron securing 58.2 per cent of the vote in this weekend’s election.
Cheers of joy erupted as the results appeared on a giant screen at the Champ de Mars park at the foot of the Eiffel tower, where Macron’s supporters cheered, waving French and EU flags.
Such estimates are normally accurate but may be fine-tuned as official results come in from around the country.
Read the full story below:
Paris police shoot dead two people in car
Paris police have shot two people dead and severely wounded a third person, a woman, after a car came speeding towards them on the oldest bridge in the French capital, an investigating source told AP.
The incident took place shortly after midnight, hours after French president Emmanuel Macron won a second term and protests broke out in the capital.
There were no early clues pointing to a link with the presidential election, however, or it being a terrorist act.
“A car came rushing towards police soon after midnight, and refused to stop,” said an investigating source.
“One of the police officers opened fire, killing two people and wounding a third.”
It happened on the ancient Pont Neuf, in the centre of the city and during the early hours of Monday morning, an examining magistrate attended the scene, which was closed to traffic.
Police at the scene confirmed that the wounded person was a woman who was in the back of the car. Bullets hit her arm and she was rushed to the hospital for “urgent treatment”.
The source said there was no return of fire from the car.
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