Le Pen thus improved his electoral result from the last duel against Macron in 2017 by almost eight percentage points. Five years ago, she received almost 33.9% of the votes. Turnout was 72%, the lowest since 1969.
After accounting for blank and invalid votes, only 38.52% of all registered voters voted for Liberal Macron, according to preliminary data from the Interior Ministry. Since the founding of the French Fifth Republic (1958), only the conservative Georges Pompidou has been elected with a smaller share of the votes, wrote the scientific director of the renowned Ipsos polling institute, Mathieu Gallard. In 1969, 37.51% of registered voters voted for Pompidou.
Macron’s victory should therefore not be understood as an absolute confirmation. While Le Pen called the result a “radiant victory”, Macron was humbled: “I know that many of our fellow citizens voted for me today to stop the ideas of the far right and not to support mine.” Referring to Le Pen voters, he said: “The anger and disagreement that led them to vote on this bill must also find an answer.”
The traditional “republican front” against the right was less pronounced than in 2017. Observers assume that Macron’s pro-business course during his five-year term has completely alienated some, especially left-wing voters.
Le Pen’s better performance is also evident from the fact that it won the most votes in significantly more departments than it did in 2017. Le Pen was particularly successful in parts of the north and some parts of the country to the south, as in the overseas territories and Corsica According to a survey for France Info, it particularly convinced workers and small employees, as well as especially people with lower incomes. She also managed to score more points with the French, who said they were dissatisfied with their lives.
At the same time, Macron may have thrown his office bonus into the cards. In recent months, he has managed to appear on the international stage as a mediator in the Ukraine war and as a crisis manager. In uncertain times because of Russia’s war of aggression, the corona pandemic and climate change, many Macron voters promised themselves continuity and stability above all else.
Last but not least, Macron also benefited from his adversary’s weaknesses. Experts continue to classify her political attitudes as radical, although she has relied on a change of image and a strategy of “de-devilization” during the election campaign. Her closeness to Russia, which she had already openly demonstrated, was also interpreted negatively. In the key TV debate four days before the second round, she also appeared less convincing to viewers than Macron, polls showed.
There was great relief in Brussels and Berlin, and congratulations from top German politicians and EU leaders arrived on Sunday night. Because Macron promises continued close cooperation. And he is open to further deepening the European Union.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also congratulated Macron on his re-election. “I sincerely wish you success in your government work and good health,” Putin wrote in a telegram to Macron, the Kremlin said on Monday. Relations between Paris and Moscow are extremely strained over the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Macron has called Putin several times in recent weeks with no results. Along with its western partners, France has imposed a series of sanctions on Russia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping also congratulated. “I would like to continue working with President Macron to cultivate diplomatic ties based on independence, mutual understanding, foresight and mutual benefit,” Xi said, according to Chinese state television on Monday.
Several African leaders congratulated Macron. “His experience with international issues in general and the Sahel region in particular makes him a valuable partner for us in our fight against terrorism,” said Mohamed Bazoum, president of the West African state of Niger, where France is providing numerous troops. for the fight against stationary terrorism. Rwandan President Paul Kagame praised Macron for his “visionary leadership that seeks to unite, not divide”. Macron’s re-election was “deserved”, Kagame said.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Senegalese President Macky Sall also welcomed Macron’s second term. He hopes the re-election will further strengthen France-Ethiopia ties, Abiy said. The former colonial power, France, is an important economic and military partner in Africa, especially for the francophone countries on the continent.
It is common practice in France for the prime minister to offer to resign from the government before the re-elected president or the new president officially takes office. Current Prime Minister Jean Castex has already announced his resignation shortly after the election. Macron will likely be able to quickly name a new head of government. The online medium “Politico” assumes that a new government could be inaugurated by mid-May at the latest.
On Sunday night, the focus shifted to parliamentary elections, which are due to take place in June. These are significant because, although the French head of state wields a lot of power, his influence is waning without a majority in the National Assembly. Without parliamentary support, Macron would be forced to appoint a government made up of politicians from a different political camp. Such a dichotomy of executive power is called “cohabitation.” The prime minister then becomes significantly more important.
Unlike the second round, Macron will not be able to count on the support of leftist and conservative parties in the race for seats in parliament. They pursue their own interests. Left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, for example, who came third in the presidential elections, hopes to become prime minister if the left wins the election. He told his supporters that they could still beat Macron in the general election.