Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/820914
maltatoday, MONDAY, 8 MAY 2017 15 News Macron wins presidential election after remarkable campaign FR ANCE'S former socialist economy minister, Emmanuel Macron, who launched a new movement called En Marche! yesterday won the French Presidential elections. His rival, Marine Le Pen, called him to "wish him success" and told sup- porters the new divide in France was between "globalists and patriots". Emmanuel Macron won the election with over 65% of the votes. The turn- out in the election was lower than usual. Over 25% of voters, mostly left wingers who supported one of the earlier candidates, Melenchon, opted not to vote. Three years ago, when he was named as President François Hollande's economy minister, journalists were writing "Who is Emmanuel Macron?" A turnout of 65.5% was recorded in an unpredictable campaign that has divided the country. The bitterly fought poll was held amid massive security. The final polling stations closed at 8pm with the result set to be reported immediately afterwards. The vote was closely watched across Europe, as the results could heavily affect the future of the European Un- ion. Macron and Le Pen voted early on Sunday in the north of France. Macron, a 39-year-old former in- vestment banker, cast his ballot near his home in the seaside resort of Le Touquet. Le Pen, the 48-year-old far-right na- tionalist, voted in the working-class town of Hénin-Beaumont, a strong- hold of her National Front party. Both are due back in Paris later in the day. Macron's supporters will celebrate in the courtyard of the Louvre. The site was brief ly evacuated on Sunday after a suspect bag was found. The far right won a significant showing. Florian Philippot, Marine Le Pen's right-hand man, told TF1 TV: "We had 11 million voters, an un- precedented score... Today we're the main opposition force in France." Macron's En Marche movement now counts more than 200,000 followers and he has developed a platform that mixes public investment with busi- ness-friendly policies. He plans to end France's 35-hour week for younger workers. "When you're young, 35 hours isn't enough. You want to work more and learn your job," he told Le Nouvel Obser- vateur. As for workers in their 50s, he argued they should have the choice of a shorter working week.cry of "Long live France!" Macron is a polished performer on stage and has attracted a very loyal following. He has shown a touch in handling slurs on his private life. Re- jecting claims of a gay affair, he told supporters that his wife Brigitte, who was a former teacher and is 24 years his senior "shares my whole life from morning till night and she wonders how I could physically do it!" Macron, who has never held an elected post, has promised change, a new moral dawn in political life, and a bright new future. He will have to deliver quickly with, to date, no for- mal political party. His movement, En Marche!, has never fielded a sin- gle candidate in any election, local or national. Under France's constitution, the president is supreme political leader and can choose a prime minister, who then recommends government min- isters, all of them normally from the president's party. If Macron obtains an outright majority from a stand- ing point of zero seats, he will be able to enact policies which are Europe- friendly and economically liberal. If he faces a hostile majority in the low- er house of parliament and is forced to appoint a prime minister outside his party, he will face a period of what is known as "cohabitation", meaning he can do little in the face of constant opposition. A third possibility is that En Marche! could have the biggest group of MPs but not a majority, leav- ing a Macron government with only limited room to manoeuvre. In January, Macron announced En Marche! would field candidates in all 577 parliamentary constituencies. He wants half to come from civil society or elected local authorities. All must have a clean criminal record, re- nounce current political affiliations and campaign as an En Marche! can- didate. At least half must be women. "He plans to end France's 35-hour week for younger workers. "When you're young, 35 hours isn't enough. You want to work more and learn your job"