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| French election: Macron pledges unity after victory over Le Pen – live updates | French election: Macron pledges unity after victory over Le Pen – live updates |
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| The Euro has rallied to a six-month high after Macron’s victory last night: | |
| Euro rallies after Macron wins French presidency https://t.co/zibHSXjAzR pic.twitter.com/XmSLZOR9j0 | |
| This from AFP: | |
| The euro rallied to a six-month high against the dollar in early Asia-Pacific forex trading Monday after pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron won the French presidency in a resounding victory over far-right rival Marine Le Pen. | |
| The single currency reached $1.1023, its highest level since November, from $1.0998 on Friday but the gains were modest compared to the reaction following his first round victory last month with markets largely pricing in Le Pen’s defeat. | |
| 7.58am BST | |
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| To find out more about Emmanuel Macron in just three minutes, here is our essential primer: | |
| 7.52am BST | |
| 07:52 | |
| Speculation is rife this morning about who new French president Macron will choose as his prime minister. | |
| As a relative unknown, some have suggested that a high-profile name is in the offing, in order to boost support for Macron’s fledgling party En Marche! in the French legislative elections in June. | |
| As Macron promised he would appoint more women to office if he was elected, and hinted he may appoint a female prime minster. | |
| There has been speculation that overtures could be made to International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde - one of France’s best known faces. | |
| Quel Premier ministre souhaitez-vous voir nommé par Macron ? Christine Lagarde a les faveurs des Français https://t.co/EnTfpP9iXE pic.twitter.com/EoubVQChU5 | |
| “Selecting Lagarde as prime minister would be smart,” Laure Mandeville, veteran political reporter for the French publication Le Figaro and best-selling author, told Newsmax, “And it would bring lots of voters to his camp for the parliamentary election.” | |
| Other potential candidates include Sylvie Goulard, a member of the European Parliament from the centrist Democratic movement, and Anne-Marie Idrac, former secretary of state for transport in outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande’s cabinet. | |
| Jean-Yves LeDrian, defense minister in the Hollande government, and Lyon Mayor Gerard Collombe, another Socialist are said to be in the running. | |
| Macron said on Friday he had decided who would be his prime minister if he won Sunday’s vote - but the name was only “in his head”. | |
| But as Angelique has tweeted: Macon has said he will not announce his prime minster until he officially becomes president next Sunday. | |
| Macron spokesman says he won't name his prime minister before he takes power next Sunday | |
| 7.33am BST | 7.33am BST |
| 07:33 | 07:33 |
| If you are coming fresh to our coverage of the French election then our main story by Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis is an excellent place to start: | If you are coming fresh to our coverage of the French election then our main story by Paris correspondent Angelique Chrisafis is an excellent place to start: |
| The pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron has won the French presidency in a decisive victory over the far-right Front National leader, Marine Le Pen, and vowed to unite a divided and fractured France. | The pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron has won the French presidency in a decisive victory over the far-right Front National leader, Marine Le Pen, and vowed to unite a divided and fractured France. |
| Macron, 39, a former economy minister who ran as a “neither left nor right” independent promising to shake up the French political system, took 65.1% to Le Pen’s 34.9%, according to initial projections from early counts. | Macron, 39, a former economy minister who ran as a “neither left nor right” independent promising to shake up the French political system, took 65.1% to Le Pen’s 34.9%, according to initial projections from early counts. |
| His victory was hailed by his supporters as holding back a tide of populism after the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory in the US election. | His victory was hailed by his supporters as holding back a tide of populism after the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory in the US election. |
| Addressing thousands of supporters in the grand courtyard of the Louvre, the vast Paris palace-turned-museum, Macron said he would defend France and Europe. He said Europe and the world are “watching us” and “waiting for us to defend the spirit of the Enlightenment, threatened in so many places”. | Addressing thousands of supporters in the grand courtyard of the Louvre, the vast Paris palace-turned-museum, Macron said he would defend France and Europe. He said Europe and the world are “watching us” and “waiting for us to defend the spirit of the Enlightenment, threatened in so many places”. |
| He promised to unite a divided and fractured France, saying: “I will do everything to make sure you never have reason again to vote for extremes.” | He promised to unite a divided and fractured France, saying: “I will do everything to make sure you never have reason again to vote for extremes.” |
| Speaking of his meteoric rise and victory that was not forecast even a year ago, he said: “Everyone said it was impossible. But they didn’t know France!” | Speaking of his meteoric rise and victory that was not forecast even a year ago, he said: “Everyone said it was impossible. But they didn’t know France!” |
| 7.23am BST | 7.23am BST |
| 07:23 | 07:23 |
| Good morning and welcome to our second day of live coverage of the French presidential election. Here is what we know so far this morning: | Good morning and welcome to our second day of live coverage of the French presidential election. Here is what we know so far this morning: |
| • Independent centrist Emmanuel Macron, 39, who was unknown three years ago, has become France’s youngest-ever president after a 66% to 34% victory in the second round run-off against the far-right Front National’s Marine Le Pen. | • Independent centrist Emmanuel Macron, 39, who was unknown three years ago, has become France’s youngest-ever president after a 66% to 34% victory in the second round run-off against the far-right Front National’s Marine Le Pen. |
| • The resounding win has been hailed by his supporters as holding back a tide of populism after the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory in the US election. | • The resounding win has been hailed by his supporters as holding back a tide of populism after the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory in the US election. |
| • In Macron’s fairly subdued victory speech the political outsider vowed to unite a divided and fractured France, saying the world was watching and “waiting for us to defend the spirit of the Enlightenment, threatened in so many places”. | • In Macron’s fairly subdued victory speech the political outsider vowed to unite a divided and fractured France, saying the world was watching and “waiting for us to defend the spirit of the Enlightenment, threatened in so many places”. |
| • Despite her loss, Le Pen’s score marked a historical high point for the French right. In a defiant concession speech, Le Pen said she was leader of “the biggest opposition force” in France and vowed to radically overhaul her party. | • Despite her loss, Le Pen’s score marked a historical high point for the French right. In a defiant concession speech, Le Pen said she was leader of “the biggest opposition force” in France and vowed to radically overhaul her party. |
| • With 99.99% of ballots counted early on Monday, Macron had 66.06% of the vote, and Le Pen 33.94%. Turnout was 74.62% – the lowest in 40 years. | • With 99.99% of ballots counted early on Monday, Macron had 66.06% of the vote, and Le Pen 33.94%. Turnout was 74.62% – the lowest in 40 years. |
| • Macron now faces the challenge of trying to win a parliamentary majority for his fledgling political movement En Marche! in legislative elections next month. Without a majority, he will not be able to carry out his manifesto promises. | • Macron now faces the challenge of trying to win a parliamentary majority for his fledgling political movement En Marche! in legislative elections next month. Without a majority, he will not be able to carry out his manifesto promises. |
| • World leaders including Trump, Theresa May and Justin Trudeau have congratulated Macron. | • World leaders including Trump, Theresa May and Justin Trudeau have congratulated Macron. |
| • The British prime minister spoke to Macron in a brief call in which the pair discussed Brexit. Macron also had a “warm” conversation with German chancellor Angela Merkel. | • The British prime minister spoke to Macron in a brief call in which the pair discussed Brexit. Macron also had a “warm” conversation with German chancellor Angela Merkel. |
| • Financial markets have been muted in response to Macron’s victory, the Euro remaining fairly flat in early Asian trading. | • Financial markets have been muted in response to Macron’s victory, the Euro remaining fairly flat in early Asian trading. |