Emmanuel Macron’s supporters celebrated at the Eiffel Tower, while Marine Le Pen’s backers reacted with dismay, as the French leader became the first person to be re-elected in 20 years.
The centrist, 44, defeated his far-right rival, 53, on Sunday by a comfortable margin, securing a second term and heading off what would have been a political earthquake.
Cheers of joy erupted as the results appeared on a giant screen at the Champ de Mars park at the foot of the Eiffel tower, where Macron supporters waved French and EU flags. People hugged each other, danced and chanted ‘Macron!’ and ‘Five more years!’.
Le Pen, who at one stage of the campaign had trailed Macron by just a few points in opinion polls, quickly admitted defeat but vowed to keep up the fight, with parliamentary elections looming in June.
‘I will never abandon the French,’ she said to supporters chanting ‘Marine! Marine!’
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