File photo taken on April 2, 2022 shows French President Emmanuel Macron greeting his supporters during his election campaign in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris, France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
PARIS – French incumbent President Emmanuel Macron won the 2022 French presidential runoff with 57.6 percent of the votes, according to the preliminary exit poll released Sunday evening by French television BFMTV.
Macron garnered 58.55 percent of the vote in the presidential election runoff after the main count of the ballots was completed, according to data published by the Interior Ministry on its website on Monday.
Marine Le Pen, of the National Rally party, has mustered 41.45 percent.
Earlier, Le Pen called her rival to congratulate him on the anticipated victory.
While speaking at a rally of her supporters, Le Pen described her performance as a historic success for the party and vowed to carry on fighting during the parliamentary elections scheduled for the summer.
The French Constitutional Council is to announce the final results of the runoff in the middle of the week.
The Interior Ministry reported a turnout of 71.99 percent, one of the lowest turnouts in French runoffs. The turnout dropped lower only in 1969 when 68.9 percent of the voters showed up at polling stations.
About 8.6 percent of the counted ballots in the latest vote were empty or mismarked.
Triumph of democracy
Several European leaders, according to Anadolu reports, welcomed Macron’s re-election as a triumph of democracy.
In his victory speech, Macron said: “Today, you have chosen a humanist project, ambitious for the independence of our country, for Europe, ambitious in its values, social and ecological, a project based on work and creation.
“This project, I want to carry it with force for the years to come, taking into account the opposition that has been expressed and with respect for differences.”
Congratulating Macron on his re-election, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said on Twitter: “I look forward to continuing our excellent cooperation. Together, we will move France and Europe forward.”
Her colleague, Charles Michel, president of the European Council, was reassured by Macron’s re-election.
“In this troubled period, we need a solid Europe and a France totally committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union. We can count on France for five more years," he said.
Christine Lagarde, the European Central Bank’s president, said that “strong leadership is essential in these uncertain times and your (Macron’s) tireless dedication will be much needed to tackle the challenges we are facing in Europe.”
Spain, German, and Portugal’s leaders who jointly called upon the French people to block far-right Le Pen’s victory, were overjoyed with the result.
“The citizens have chosen a France committed to a free, strong and fair EU. Democracy wins. Europe wins,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.
German chancellor Olaf Sholz said: “Your voters have sent a strong vote of confidence in Europe today. I am happy that we will continue our good cooperation."
‘Splendid news for Europe’
Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa said that with the results, “French people have once again shown their attachment to the European project.”
“In these troubled times for our continent and the world, it is crucial to count on France to defend multilateralism, security, the fight against climate change and to engage in the construction of a humanist, more equitable, green Europe. and prosperous,” he added.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi hailed Macron’s victory as “splendid news for all of Europe.”
“Italy and France are engaged, side by side, along with all the other partners, to build a Europe that is stronger, more cohesive, fairer, capable of taking the lead in overcoming the great challenges of our times, starting from the war in Ukraine,” Draghi said.
“We are ready immediately to continue working together, with ambition and determination, at the service of our countries and of all European citizens,” he added.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also echoed similar sentiments, saying that this is "an important victory for France, Europe and democracy."
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said: “The French have made an important choice today. They chose certainty and the values of the enlightenment.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, with whom Macron has had several political tiffs and disagreements over Brexit, congratulated the French president, and said: “France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and the world.” (Xinhua/TASS/Anadolu)
