Paris Emmanuel Macron’s election victory triggers relief in many European capitals. Which is less due to Macron himself than to his adversary.
Marine Le Pen wanted to break away from decades of close cooperation with Germany. In addition, the EU-sceptical nationalist strived to decisively curb the influence of the European Union in France. In Brussels, she could have slowed down a number of projects out of self-interest.
The pro-European Macron, on the other hand, applies in tandem with the Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) in Europe as a driving force. “Your voters also sent a strong commitment to Europe today,” Scholz tweeted in the evening. “I am pleased that we are continuing our good cooperation!”
“We can count on France for five more years,” said the EU Council President Charles Michael communicate. He congratulated the old and new French President via Twitter on the election victory: “In these turbulent times we need a strong Europe and a France that is fully committed to a more sovereign and strategic European Union,” wrote Michel.
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And also the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen used the short message service for her congratulations: “I am pleased to be able to continue our good cooperation.”
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson referred to France as a close partner of his country. “Congratulations on being re-elected President of France, Emmanuel Macron,” Johnson wrote on Twitter, also attaching his congratulations in French. “France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues that matter most to both our countries and the world.”
France also relied on democratic values and the values of the Enlightenment, wrote the Belgian head of government Alexander DeCroo. “More than ever, all democratic forces must unite against the extremes that turn people against each other, undermine our democratic constitutional state and weaken Europe.” Democracy is too valuable to be left to the extremists. “We will also continue this fight in our country.”
Prime Minister spoke in Italy Mario Draghi spoke on Sunday evening of “wonderful news for all of Europe”. “Italy and France work side by side, together with all other partners, to build a stronger, more compact and fairer European Union, capable of being the protagonist in tackling the great challenges of our time, starting with the Ukraine war. “
This is how the reactions from Germany turn out
Minister of State for Europe Anna Lührmann (Green) was relieved. “It’s a good choice for Europe. A weight falls from my heart,” she said after the announcement of the first election forecasts. “I am happy and relieved that France has clearly rejected isolationism, populism and nationalism in these elections.”
She is looking forward to continuing the trusting cooperation with France. “Together we will continue to work on a strong Europe, on climate neutrality and peace.”
FDP leader and federal finance minister Christian Lindner tweeted: “This election was a directional choice. It was about fundamental questions of values. The French have decided in favor of Macron. This makes a united Europe the biggest winner of this election.”
Green party leader Ricardo Lang wrote: “Now it is important to continue working together on a strong and sovereign Europe. And to fight to ensure that Putin friends and right-wing extremists like Le Pen do not come as close to government power as they do in France today.”
SPD leader Saskia Esken tweeted: “I dance! Great relief and our warmest congratulations to Emmanuel Macron and our French friends.”
“Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron,” tweeted the CDU leader Friedrich Merz. “Europe also won today. Now a new attempt at Franco-German cooperation is possible and necessary!”
In the evening, the AfD congratulated the defeated right-wing nationalist candidate Marine Le Pen. Party leader Tino Chrupalla said: “I congratulate our partner Marine Le Pen on her strong result.” Macron only “gained a fictitious victory”.
“This was perhaps the last warning shot”
The German European politician Manfred Weber sees in the re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron also a failure of the election winner. Europe can now take a deep breath, wrote the head of the Christian Democratic EPP Group in the European Parliament on Twitter. But it is clear that this is not a convincing victory.
Five years of the liberal Macron would have made populists and extremes stronger than ever. “This was perhaps the last warning shot. Macron has been re-elected, his political concept has failed.” France needs a strong debate and strong alternatives in the democratic center. A fight between progressives and populists is the wrong way and endangers European integration.
A blessing from an economic perspective
“The outcome of the election is also a blessing for France’s economic perspective,” says Friedrich Heineman from ZEW. “The expansion of the state economy and the populist debt policy with Le Pen would have massively clouded France’s growth prospects.” However, the low turnout shows “a massive problem with the acceptance of open markets in one of the most important EU member states”.
More: Breathe a sigh of relief in Brussels and Berlin – Macron prevails against Le Pen