Incumbent Macron Triumphs At France’s Presidential Election

On the 24th of April, Emmanuel Macron was re-elected as the president of France after gaining 58.5 percent of the runoff vote compared to the far right-wing opponent, Marine Le Pen, who stood with 41.5 percent, according to the final outcomes released by the Interior Ministry. In the first round of voting, far-left and far-right voters accounted for 57% of the ballots cast, with neither candidate winning a majority. In the second round, however, 28% of voters abstained— the highest in over 50 years, suggesting widespread disillusionment with the presidential candidates. However, Macron was re-elected for a second five-year term, even with the rate of abstention. Supporters of the President gathered to celebrate on the Champ de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower, as Macron vowed to be the “president for each and every one of you.”

credit: New York Times

Not only is Macron’s victory a relief for his party and supporters, but also for Western allies and countries. Macron has appeared to use the strategy of presenting himself as the “progressive” champion of pro-European liberals and as the only option in the face of his opposing far-right nationalist, Le Pen. The opposition leader has claimed that she would withdraw France from NATO if she rose to power and is already infamous for her alarming closeness with Russian president Vladimir Putin. NATO allies and officials have feared that Le Pen would rock the Trans-Atlantic relationship in the midst of Russian aggression and increasing tensions between Russia and Ukraine. In this sense, Western nations have potentially averted a perilous crisis with one of Europe’s powerhouses. “Europe can breathe,” stated Jean-Dominique Giuliani, chairman of the Robert Schumann Foundation, a pro-European research centre.

Nevertheless, the scene of France’s politics is still frightening. The 2022 margin between Macron and Le Pen was exceptionally narrower than in their 2017 campaigns. Twenty-six election districts and two overseas territories flipped on Macron and were in support of Le Pen. The far-right's substantial increase in support in conservative and post-industrial areas is a reminder of various dissatisfaction over rising inflation, increasing prices overall, immigration, and is a stark reminder of how widespread Islamophobia is. Le Pen is currently leading the far-right to its most assertive representation in France since World War II. Therefore, Macron’s second term is predicted to be full of turmoil and significant challenges, not unlike his first term.

Despite Macron’s success, he remains a deeply unpopular figure in France, which is sometimes deemed a result of "personality politics," with Macron’s critics most recently describing him as "arrogant" following a TV debate with Le Pen.

Throughout his second term, Macron is expected to find himself face-to-face with controversy and the continued navigation of foreign relations. One of the most pressing matters is France’s relations with Russia and his support for Ukraine. Macron has backed EU sanctions on Russia alongside the U.S. and has called Putin’s actions in Bucha "war crimes." This is a stark contrast to several years ago, when Macron and Putin seemed to maintain close relations. Putin visited Macron before the G7 summit and arrived in France to celebrate Macron’s presidential victory in 2017 amid tensions over Syria and Ukraine. The French president continues to face other challenges, too, namely renewal of climate policy, backlash from Le Pen’s supporters, a divided France, and the need for a majority in parliament, suggesting that, despite Macron’s presidential victory, all is not won yet.