Emmanuel Macron has won French presidential election after beating rival Marine Le Pen.
Exit polls showed that the 39-year-old centrist candidate, who won in the first round last week, claimed 65.5 per cent of the polls against his opponent’s 34.5 per cent.
The new president is pro-business and a strong supporter of the European Union.
The whole of France has been celebrating his victory, while congratulatory messages have begun pouring in from around the world.
Meanwhile, Le Pen conceded and congratulated the French President-elect on his victory.
She also thanked her supporters for helping her come this far in the elections.
Macron’s Speech
Emmanuel Macron gave a short victory speech, where he spoke of a “big honour, and an immense responsibility”. He said he was speaking to all of France’s citizens, not just those who voted for him. He sent “republican greetings” to Marine Le Pen.
Macron said he was aware of the “anger, anxiety and doubt” that many French citizens feel and had expressed in their vote. According to him, he would be “implacable and entirely resolved” in defending their security.
He assured: “I will defend France, its vital interests, its image.”
The primary task over the coming five years, he said, was to “calm people’s fears, restore France’s confidence, and gather all its people together to face the immense challenges that face us in the future”.
