Centrist Emmanuel Macron of the “En Marche!” movement has won the French presidential election, beating his rival, Marine Le Pen from the right-wing National Front (FN) party, the Interior Ministry said.
08 May 2017
President Francois Hollande has announced Emmanuel Macron’s inauguration will be held on Sunday.
The final results from the French election show Macron with 66.1 percent of the votes, accounting for nearly 21 million voters. Le Pen received 33.9 percent, comprising 10.6 million voters.
Just over 25 percent of registered voters abstained, accounting for 12 million people, which is the highest abstention rate since 1969.
Human Rights Watch said it was encouraging that French voters had “rejected a platform that played into xenophobic populism” by electing Macron.
In a statement, Benedicte Jeannerod, France director at Human Rights Watch, warned that “the far-right’s unprecedented share of the vote should be a wake-up call for France. Macron, his administration, and France’s next parliament should reflect on what has prompted so many to vote that way and address those concerns while defending rights for all.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his victory in the French presidential run-off. “French citizens have elected you to lead your country in a difficult time for Europe and beyond,” the Russian president said in a statement, noting “the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism is being accompanied by an escalation in local conflicts and the destabilization of whole regions.” Putin added that, under such circumstances, it is crucial “to overcome mutual mistrust and unite efforts to ensure international stability.”
READ MORE: Police use tear gas in Paris after protesters reportedly throw projectiles (VIDEO)
Paris police detained 141 left-wing protesters during an “anti-capitalist” demonstration that took place on Sunday evening shortly after the first presidential election results were announced, AFP reported. Most were released, but nine are still in police custody. Earlier, scattered groups of people wearing balaclavas clashed with police in eastern Paris. During the presidential campaign, some left-wing groups held a number of rallies against both candidates, seeing Emmanuel Macron as too pro-business and Marin le Pen as tainted by her party’s far-right rhetoric.
Macron announced on En Marche!’s YouTube channel that his was not going to be a partisan presidency, so he would be “the president of all French [people].”
07 May 2017
Emmanuel Macron has won the French presidential elections, receiving 66.06 percent of the vote, while his rival, Marine Le Pen, got 33.94 percent, the Interior Ministry said, citing final results.
French Socialist minister Najat Vallaud Belkacem has called Macron a "weak" president, arguing that many people voted for him by default, Reuters reports.
Police have used tear gas again against demonstrators in the east of Paris, where clashes happened earlier this evening, a RIA Novosti correspondent at the scene reported.
Protesters in Caen, in France’s Normandy region, carried banners, saying Ni Macron, Ni Le Pen (neither Macron, nor Le Pen).
Around 450 people marched in the city of Nantes, western France, AFP reported, citing the city prefecture.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has congratulated Macron on his victory.
Macron won 64.39 percent of the vote, while Le Pen received 35.61 percent, the Interior Ministry said after 86 percent of the ballots were counted.
At least 500 protesters have gathered in the city of Grenoble in southeastern France, FranceInfo reported, adding that police responded with tear gas.
“Neither bosses, nor bankers,” and "Grenoble, rise up,” protesters were shouting.
Macron has gained 100 percent of the votes in at least 10 communes, Le Figaro reported.
RT's Charlotte Dubenskij has been detained by the French police during the protest in Paris, as she reported on Twitter. Her phone has allegedly been confiscated.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has congratulated Macron on his victory, saying that 90 percent of people in Paris supported the centrist candidate.
“We promise to resist,” said banners held by demonstrators in the western city of Poitiers.
A demonstration also gathered in front of the City Hall in central Lyon.
Demonstrators have gathered in the southern city in Bordeaux, France Bleau newspaper said.
Macron won 63.62 percent of the vote, while Le Pen got 36.38 percent, the Interior Ministry said after 79 percent of the ballots were counted.
At least 80 protesters gathered in southern city of Montpellier, according to Midi Libre newspaper.
In the eastern city of Strasbourg, the rally against “fascists and capitalists” turned violent, with protesters throwing stones at police, FranceInfo reported.
The crowd gathered near the headquarters of the En Marche! political movement, shouting “Macron Démission” (Macron Resignation). According to French media, at least 15 protesters were arrested and several people were reported injured.
According to her spokesperson, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already called Macron on the phone, and "praised his stance for a united and open European Union during the campaign" and said that "the decision of the French voters is a clear statement of support for Europe."
Macron chose the EU anthem, Ode to Joy, as his entry music for the tens of thousands of supporters, who had spent hours waiting for him outside the Louvre in central Paris.
"Everyone said it was impossible, but they did not know France!"
With 97 percent of the communes reporting - though with some of the most populous urban areas still to finish counting the ballots - Macron leads with 62.2 percent over Le Pen, who has 38.8 percent.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the FN founder, who was expelled from the party two years ago, has criticized his daughter's campaign for straying from its core issues, as it tried to broaden its appeal.
"It is the problems of the euro, of Europe, of pensions which have dragged down the campaign of Madame Le Pen, I think," said Jean-Marie Le Pen to RTL radio."I think we must speak to France about the real problems, demographic problems, problems of mass immigration."
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader who faces off against Theresa May in next month's British parliamentary election, has acclaimed France for rejecting "the politics of hate."
While Donald Trump had endorsed Le Pen in the run-up to the election, the US President said he was "very much" looking forward to working with Macron, who scored a "big win."
Emmanuel Macron looked stern as he delivered his victory speech, promising to reach out to the entirety of France, and to allay the country's fear of terrorism.
"I salute my adversary Ms Le Pen, I know why people chose to vote for an extreme party. I know the doubt, the fear they expressed," said Macron speaking against a background of a French and an EU flag standing by each other. "And it is my responsibility to take on those concerns and guarantee our unity and responsibility for our country.From tomorrow we will modernise politics, recognise pluralism, revitalise democracy. This will be my first mission, respecting everyone."
Police used tear gas around Ménilmontant, in the 20th arrondissement, to break up a spontaneous demonstration of radical activists, who were screaming slogans against capitalism and fascism, and throwing bottles, Russia's Ria news agency reports.
With 30 percent of the votes counted, Macron is leading with 60,52 percent of the votes, versus 39,48 for Le Pen. Previous provisional results showed that the nationalist candidate was ahead in only 7 of the 96 departments of mainland France.
European Council President Donald Tusk has used his congratulations as an opportunity for a sideswipe at Macron's opponents, calling their platform "a tyranny of fake news."
Emmanuel Macron has given his first statement, since being confirmed as the winner of the run-off.
"A new page in our long history this evening. I would like it to be one of hope and of confidence rediscovered," the President-elect told AFP.
Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has declared Macron as the winner of the election, and issued a statement praising the electorate for "rejecting the far right."
EU's most powerful politician, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, has released a pre-prepared statement, congratulating France for choosing "the European way," and saying that Macron's election would lead to a "stronger and fairer" Europe.
Outgoing President Francois Hollande, the man who elevated Macron out of relative obscurity by naming him as his economy minister, and later accused his protege of "betrayal" has welcomed his victory, saying that it shows that the French "have united around the values of the Republic."
Although - unlike Le Pen - Macron is a self-confessed Europhile, who is likely to proof a tough opponent for Britain over Brexit, UK PM Theresa May has been one of the first to congratulate him.
"The Prime Minister warmly congratulates President-elect Macron on his election success. France is one of our closest allies and we look forward to working with the new President on a wide range of shared priorities," she said in a statement.
Marine Le Pen has already given her concession speech, in which she congratulated Emmanuel Macron on his victory, whom she says she has already called.
She thanked "11 million" of her supporters, and said that she was immediately beginning the campaign for next month's parliamentary elections.
Germany's foreign minister has led the raft of German officials congratulating Macron on the predicted victory.
"France remains in the middle and the heart of Europe," Sigmar Gabriel tweeted.
Polling stations have now closed. French polling agencies are projecting that Emmanuel Macron will be elected the next president of France with 65 percent of the vote.
French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the French people have chose Macron as their president.
Polling stations are set to close across France in the next five minutes.
Belgian media are reporting that Macron is expected to secure 63 percent of the vote. The report, based on an IPSOS survey, puts Le Pen on 37 percent.
Marine Le Pen has arrived at Chalet du Lac - the venue for her election night event.
RT has been blocked from attending Emmanuel Macron's event at the Louvre. RT International Europe Correspondent Peter Oliver says he was denied access as soon as he confirmed he was there on behalf of the network.
RT had been prevented from attending Macron's event following the first round of voting despite receiving assurances that the network would receive an accreditation.
READ MORE: Liberté d'expression? RT crew blocked from Macron HQ despite press requests
Media outlets including Buzzfeed, Mediapart and POLITICO have reportedly been banned from attending Marine Le Pen's election night event at Chalet du Lac, a hunting lodge once used by Napoleon III on the eastern edge of Paris.
French newspaper Libération has said it will boycott the event in solidarity with the banned organizations.
Liberation came under fire Saturday after publishing a pro-Macron message on the cover of its weekend edition. Critics felt the newspaper had skirted rules governing pre-election reporting, although the edition was released before the moratorium came into effect.
Interest in the French election has officially reached out of this world after astronaut Thomas Pesquet tweeted a reminder to his compatriots to cast their vote from aboard the International Space Station. Pesquet, who is in orbit 400km (250 miles) above the Earth, cast his vote by proxy.
Voter turnout was reported at 65.30 percent as of 5 pm local time - a significant drop from previous elections at the same time. In 2012 turnout at this stage was at 71.96 percent while in 2007 it was at 75.11 percent.
Today's reported turnout is similar to the 2002 presidential election when more than 67 percent of the electorate had cast their ballot at same stage.
Some 26 percent of those eligible have chosen not to vote.
Voting is continuing across France ahead of a 7pm deadline at most polling stations. However, residents of large cities like Paris will have until 8pm to cast their ballot.
An 89-year-old man has died at a polling station in Draveil, a southern suburb of Paris. The man had a heart attack shortly after 8am, according to Le Parisien. The polling station was temporarily closed but reopened at around 9am.
The Louvre is now operating as normal with both media and tourists allowed access to the museum and press site respectively. French police also tweeted that additional security measures have ended.
Access to the courtyard area of the Louvre has reopened to the public. It is unclear if access to the main building has also been restored.
A statement from the Macron campaign said that the evacuation was prompted by the discovery of a suspicious bag. Some 300 journalists on site at a press room were amongst those ordered to clear the area.
Macron's team have scheduled a post-election event at the Louvre tonight.
French police said on Twitter that they were taking precautionary measures at the Louvre. However, they did not explain why.
Video from the Louvre courtyard seems to show security personnel ordering members of the press to leave the area.
A security alert has forced the evacuation of the Louvre in Paris. It is not yet clear what sparked the alert. French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to host a post-election event outside the museum later Sunday.
Voter turnout was reported at 28.23 percent as of midday local time, down from 30.7 at the same time during the 2012 election, and 34.1 in 2007, Reuters notes.
Most polling stations around France will close at 7pm local time, though some will stay open in big cities for an additional hour.
Early indications of the election result from poll estimates are expected to be reported in France around 8pm.
Macron waved to a large crowd gathered outside when leaving the polling station in Le Touquet.
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy turned out to vote in Paris.
The latest opinion polls show Macron with a 23 to 26 percentage point lead over Le Pen, Reuters reports.
After voting, Le Pen briefly greeted a crowd gathered outside before leaving in a van.
Meanwhile, Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, greeted voters inside a polling station in Le Touquet.
Marine Le Pen has arrived to vote at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont under tight security.
Emmanuel Macron has arrived to vote at a polling station in Le Touquet.
Former French Socialist party candidate Benoit Hamon, who secured just over six percent of the vote in the first round, came out to vote in Trappes, northern France.
Crowds have been gathering in the rain at a voting station in Le Touquet in anticipation of Macron’s arrival.
Voting queues have been forming at French embassies across the globe, including in London, Lisbon, and Dublin.
On Saturday, voting took place in areas further overseas, including the US and Canada.
Earlier, members of the FEMEN activist group showed up at a church in the Henin-Beaumont area to display a banner slamming Le Pen.
Outgoing French president Francois Hollande turned up to vote in the town of Tulle in central France.
Marine Le Pen is expected to vote later today in her constituency, Henin-Beaumont, which is also in northern France.
Candidate Emmanuel Macron is expected to cast his vote in his hometown of Le Touquet in northern France, where journalists have gathered in anticipation of his arrival.
French Defense Minister Jean-Yves le Drian was the first high-ranking official to vote. The minister cast his ballot at a polling station in Bretagne, his home region, but refrained from making any statements, RIA Novosti reports.
Voting has just begun at 66,546 polling stations in metropolitan France, France 24 reported. Most stations will close at 7:00pm Paris time, except those in some larger cities that will stay open an hour longer. The presidential elections are being held in the middle of a three-day weekend, which will likely boost turnout, Le Monde wrote.
France’s 2017 presidential election is being held amid unprecedented security measures. The Interior Ministry has deployed 50,000 police officers and gendarmes to secure polling stations during Sunday’s vote. In Paris, some 12,000 police officers and soldiers from Operation Sentinel – created by the army in the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo shooting in January 2015 and the subsequent Paris terrorist attacks – will also provide security in the French capital and its suburbs.
Some voters have already cast their ballots in France’s overseas territories, including Saint-Pierre and Miquelon off the Canadian coast, where voting kicked off at noon Paris time on Saturday. An estimated total of 1.3 million French citizens living abroad were entitled to vote on Saturday, according to France 24.
During the second round, former economy minister Emmanuel Macron, a 39-year-old investment banker, will compete against 48-year-old Marine Le Pen. The polls in mainland France open at 8:00am local time (06:00 GMT) on Sunday and close at 7:00pm (17:00 GMT).