Emmanuel Macron Wins French Presidential Election, British PM And European Union Leaders Give Congratulations

JAKARTA - European Union leaders and heads of government of countries on the Blue Continent rushed to congratulate Emmanuel Macron, the incumbent who won the French presidential election with 58.6 percent of the vote compared to 41.4 percent of his rival Marine Le Pen.

European Council president Charles Michel, as well as the prime ministers of Belgium and Luxembourg, were among the first to congratulate Macron, followed by nearly all of the bloc's 27 leaders.

"Bravo Emmanuel," Michel wrote on Twitter, citing Reuters April 25.

"In this turbulent period, we need a solid Europe and a France that is truly committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union."

After Britain's surprise vote to leave the European Union and the election of Donald Trump in the United States in 2016, the European Union is concerned about Le Pen's potential for social and economic reforms, even if polls show Macron winning in Sunday's second round.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the public face of Brexit for many Europeans, lauded the result, pledging cooperation with Macron and saying that "France is one of our closest and most important allies."

France, a founding member of the EU, has been at the center of efforts to integrate Europe since the end of the Second World War, even though such policies have been divisive. To all a sigh of relief, more than half of French voters backed a candidate in the first round of an election that was critical of the EU.

Having Le Pen, a highly skeptical politician who has expressed his admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, at the Elysee Palace would have major implications for EU stability, analysts and diplomats say.

Le Pen has long toyed with the idea of leaving the bloc, although he insists he has no secret agenda this time around, to exit the EU or the single euro.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, a French national, offered warm words for pro-business Macron, saying "strong leadership is essential in these uncertain times."

Meanwhile, the leaders of Sweden, Romania, Lithuania, Finland, the Netherlands, and Greece, as well as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen all reacted within about half an hour of the result with their congratulations.

"I look forward to continuing our broad and constructive cooperation within the EU and NATO, and to further strengthening the excellent relations between our countries," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Echoing the sentiments of many, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said Europe was the biggest winner.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who along with Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are seen as forming a strong trio of pro-EU leaders, also said the re-election was "good news for all of Europe."

It is known, Chancellor Scholz offered continued Franco-German cooperation, which was considered the engine of European integration. Many leaders refer to Macron as "cher (darling) Emmanuel".

The centrist youth is one of the bloc's most pro-EU leaders, credited by many for having a vision to help him deal with a rising China and Russian military threat.

Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tweeted his congratulations to Macron. PM Sanchez on Thursday wrote a joint opinion piece in French daily Le Monde with Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa and Chancellor Scholz, criticizing Le Pen and urging people to vote for Macron.

"The opportunity that there will be pro-European governments in France and Germany for at least the next four years must be taken," said Anton Hofreiter, chair of the European Committee at the German Bundestag.