Macron elected French president

marry a male 24 years her junior? And what kind of Oedipus complex must Macron have to want that in return?

That's about the age difference between Trump and Melania

Congratulations to People of France. You guys were smart enough to learn mistakes from UK and US elections that were interfered by Putin of Russian government.

Putin Lost! French Won! Yey to the World!

France did not choose the voice of fascism and hate, it is a good day for the world.

Congratulations to France for rejecting right wing nationalism.

I should raise a glass of the finest French bubbly to my 2016 - 23/1 Emmanuel Macron Presidential victory. First time I managed a correct call in any recent European election result.

I am not so encouraged by my French friends and colleagues negativity. A Marine Le Pen victory would have heralded economic and well as political catastrophe. There consolation vote for Emmanuel Macron was the only wise and just expediency's sake choice on offer.

France helped us win our independence and now they're reminding us what we fought for.

"The decline of France is accelerating."

Just to be clear, that's exactly what you're hoping for. Decline is the most fertile soil for rightists. By gutting public institutions and robbing state wealth, by laying siege to public education and eliminating regulations that give citizens some modest leverage against corporate interests, you create the very conditions you bemoan.

I always think of a quote in Cold Mountain:

"Every piece of this is man's b---s--t. They call this war 'a cloud over the land' but they made the weather and then they stand in the rain and say 'Shit, it's rainin'!'"

Félicitations!

Once again the people of France demonstrate how much more S E N S I B L E they are than the people of America.

This from the Guardian:

Leave.EU, pressure group set up by Nigel Farage before referendum, tweets that French people had ‘rolled over’ like they did in 1940

Classy as ever.

Strange noises from the rubbish bin. Can't we make bins with screw tops?

Thank god at least ONE country learned from the disasters that were Brexit and the US election. Another 'Trump' avoided!

I think le pen's performance at the last debate scared ppl off. Too many gaps and inconsistencies.

I actually think Macron is 'fairly' honest (for french political standards that is) and quite brilliant intellectually so am happy to give him a shot.

His unconventional love life is a plus especially in a political world dominated by anglo pseudo puritanism.

Once again the people of France demonstrate how much more S E N S I B L E they are than the people of America.

Just what we need, more SENSIBLE people in the world.

Congratulations to everyone in France for choosing a new President (and everyone in Andorra on their new Copríncep). I have very high hopes for President/Co-Prince Macron and I really hope he doesn't disappoint. Many of his policies are sensible and need to be implemented for the country to stay competitive. His biggest obstacle will be the intransigent Mélenchon supporters on the far left rather than the far right Le Pen voters, who are actually more likely to see sense on economic issues.

I think part of the disappointment of the trash right is many predicted a populist rightwing wave ( Trump was a spokesperson for this ) which would sweep across the developed world. As it turned out, the Dutch and the French were above this kind of thing. The rising star in the Dutch election was a group of tree-hugging lefties and the surprise package in the French election was a hard left veteran who finished just a few points behind Le Pen. Bernie Sanders could have beaten Trump if he hadn't been treated so disgracefully by the Democratic Party.

I suppose you could argue the left is on the rise rather than the right.

I thought the people in the US were very sensible that voted. 

Please, Trump's base feeds off of alternative facts. They somehow excuse his constant lies. How is that sensible?

Sure, the vote was a vote of the disenfranchised, but it was also clearly an emotional and uneducated vote.

Now, the disenfranchised own DC, and they still can't get anything done. Every proposal is aimed at making the rich richer or the U.S. isolationist where only "white" is right.

I think this is fabulous news and I agree with all the comments especially Crazy Joe's. Now I feel much better. Thanks.

As it turned out, the Dutch and the French were above this kind of thing. 

As were the Austrians.

Especially nice few days. UKIP wiped from the map in the UK with bottle-job Farage and Dutch loser Wilders whining from their collective rocks, banished once again to the fascist hideyholes squeaking support for the massively defeated le Pen. Seeing Trump tweet his congratulations was also rather cool.

France desperately needs change. Macron may be the man to do it. I wish him the best of luck....

The only bad thing about this silly cow getting thrashed like a moron is that we now have to endure the pathetic weeping of triggered rubes. Can someone just give these parasites jobs and girlfriends?

 JST Thank god at least ONE country learned from the disasters that were Brexit and the US election.

The French love, and understand, politics and blokes like Boris Johnson, Faraje or Trump would  NEVER have been elected in a country like France. As such, I don't think the French learnt anything from Brexit nor the us election, they knew well beforehand ignorant ppl should never hold a position of power let alone lead a govt.

Trump, Faraje and co would be at 1-5% in france (not even sure any political party would want them in). As bad as MLP is, she isn't an idiot, is well read, erudite and eloquent. DT/Faraje or BJ can't hold a candle to her.

Trump, Faraje and co would be at 1-5% in france (not even sure any political party would want them in). As bad as MLP is, she isn't an idiot, is well read, erudite and eloquent. DT/Faraje or BJ can't hold a candle to her.

I'd agree the French electorate is more sophisticated and politically engaged than that of the US or the UK but it's worth remembering that Farage couldn't win a parliamentary seat in the UK even in a constituency chosen for its very strong anti-European sentiments. The Tory party went into total panic mode at the thought of Johnson as leader.

It's still a damning indictment of US and UK politics that the likes of Trump and Johnson are allowed anywhere near high office. However, as much as I can't stand and disagree with Farage, he can't be dismissed as an idiot. I truly wish he could.

wtfjapan Today  07:38 pm JST

the best thing about Macron victory isnt the actually winning part, its more to witness the pathetic excuses and predictions from the right and anti EU establishemnt. LOL

For an extra je ne sais pas, consider that the people most vocally throwing a tantrum about this (seriously, on Reddit they're saying France has "fallen") would absolutely flip a table at the prospect of a Frenchman telling them how their country should vote in an election.

"And the first geriatric cougar as first lady." Ageist and sexist all in one sentence. What has her age got to do with anything?

Congratulations! Like Holland, and even like the US (popular vote, at least), French voters have shown right wing nationalists they're the minority.

Madverts- excellent post.  Agree 100%

35% of the voters didn't vote for Macron (and the abstainers %?)-a divided France? well at least Macron got the majority of voters to vote for him, the French electoral process requires a majority or popular vote to win the Presidency, unlike some democracies

the best thing about Macron victory isnt the actually winning part, its more to witness the pathetic excuses and predictions from the right and anti EU establishemnt. LOL

Le Pen gets immigration right but that is about the only thing. The rest of her policies do not seem to even exist as she doesn't know what she is doing. It is the program of the opposition party that never expects to win. Promising free stuff to everyone and not having to worry how to deliver.

Hi kurisupisu,

Reuters feed says abstention rate 24.7 %,  blank and spoiled papers, 11.92% more to come though and could be projections.

The French witnessed our experience and said, mon Dieu, save us from that!

I guess the ruskie trolls backing the fascist candidate are sore losers! And on and on until May Day next year.

Exactly.  Tells you alot about Putin and his sock puppets when they back a racist bigot

Congratulations.

Congratulations France!  Well done on sending Le Pen back to the stables where she belongs.

Anyone knows about the results in Japan ?

zichi: It's not what the British people wanted, it's what those who voted wanted, and there's a critical difference there. It is the fault of those who did not vote for not voting, of course, and now they're stuck with the result, and I DO think it will be a disaster; for the region and not just Britain. All of the "make Britain great again" BS spouted by right-wing nutters and racists is going to backfire completely when costs go up and they realize they don't want to do the crappy jobs immigrants might be willing to do for cheaper wages, and already you're hearing Britain ask to enjoy the same non-tariffs on things they had in the EU, and people being shocked that they might not be able to.

In any case, France here just avoided a major disaster like that of Brexit and Trump, and so has the region, fortunately. At least the old crow can't say it was close, though she might create a bunch of alternative facts like Trump did about his inauguration numbers and how the popular vote was a fraud by "three million" or whatever.

Trump is a good deal older than Melania & that's never mentioned. Not that it should make any difference, natch.

Le Pen would have been an economic disaster but in all fairness to them both, the growth hasn't been there basically for 10 years.

Happy the fascist lost. It's funny that opposing a horrible female candidate doesn't make me a Bernie Bro this time.

That said, France is still screwed. Neoliberal elites have learned nothing and they will do what they always do--enabling predatory elites at the expense of working people.

35% of the voters didn't vote for Macron (and the abstainers %?)-a divided France?

The Brexit vote is understandable given the situation outside of London. May's plan to deal with immigration won't address the current situation, and the UK will soon become an Orwelian Society in order to avoid the Islamic threat from within - The Empire has imploded, and the destruction heads home - after Islam, we will see the Indian / Pakistani relationships becoming the next biggest threat.

As for France, and Macron. Well, it for now, gives a bit more Strength to Europe - though there are some Elections in a few weeks time within France that may give rise to further edginess. Macron will be pro busines, and inevitably further the demise of London's Financial Industry. Maybe France will slowly see growth, abandoning the 35 hour working week and the 5 week vacations may help.. though may also cause internal issues.

The British Labour party within the UK was smart to let the Tories win outright, since now, all blame, will clearly go to them rather than Labour in future.

I just wonder how much more often will the French electorate vote against the far right candidate rather than for the non-far right one. This pattern can't go on forever.

That being said, having two rounds of elections is not a bad idea. Imagine this scenario:

Leaving out the Electoral College, and assuming Trump had more actual votes than Clinton, I wonder how it would have gone in the US presidential election if there had been a second-round process in place.

Being French we just elected a wolf in sheep's clothing.

his domestic agenda of cutting state spending, easing labour laws, boosting education in deprived areas and extending new protections to the self-employed.

Sounds like he has his heart in the right place, but whether he will have the support (and guts) to follow through on these reforms quickly enough to enact the whole program before the vested interests are able to organize themselves and resist the changes, remains to be seen.

his economic agenda, particularly plans to weaken labour regulations to fight stubbornly high unemployment, are likely to face fierce resistance from trade unions and his leftist opponents.

This is why it's important for him to act quickly, while (and if) he has the chance. The reformers need to clearly explain the trade-offs, costs and benefits involved in what he is proposing, and gain the benefit of the doubt. There is possibly a window of opportunity to get things done for the long-term benefit of the French, but that window will likely close quickly. The changes need to rapidly be put in place to overwhelm opponents.

Well France like america had the choice between sewer rat your run of the mill garbage rat. I can never for the love of me understand why anyone would participate in the voting process given such horrendous choices!! I look forward to the mental gymnastics from the macaroni supporters on this forum once the poop inevitably hits the fan.

Poor France.  this bloke was an integral part of the Hollande government who is in thrall to Europe and to the ongoing agenda of further changes to French industry.   My guess is more years of stasis in France.  and the youth having no jobs.  and the immigrants getting screwed.  and the EU carrying on wiith their job of destroying the future for Europeans.

Once again the people of France demonstrate how much more S E N S I B L E they are than the people of America.

Really? I thought the people in the US were very sensible that voted. I'm happy, the French people have to decide if they are happy and if they are, then that's all that matters. Who cares what the outsiders think.

I have a question for the whole celebrating crowd: so, Macron won, what's next? Keep in mind the following:

Macron has no solid support base. Just a year ago nobody knew him, only some politically active people remembered he was a minister for two years (whoa, what a huge experience as a statesman!). By frantic propaganda efforts the eastablishment managed to unite a mothley crew of crowd to support Macron on May 7, but he was the darling of that crowd for only one day. Soon the Republicans, Communists, leftists and others will begin to rip him apart, simply because he is an alien to them, they supported him only against Le Pen, not for his policies.

He has to build coalition, but he is weak (little real support) and he simply does not know how to do that. He has no working team of trusted and experienced confidants (well, may be only a bunch of other banksters). France has a big pool of very effective bureaucrats to choose from, but they'll require time to adjust to each other to work as a team for a rookie president.

As a weak president Macron will be forced to follow closely the instructions from EU bureaucrats - the same people who navigated EU to its present sorrow state, and implement the same policies that angered so much of French populace. No fresh ideas, no real changes. And the situation will get worse and worse.

Keep celebrating, you still have time.

France is to far the left of even California. A Le Pen win would have been a miracle. In addition, whatever economic reforms he claims to favor, are a non starter with the left - they will never allow it, and without growth, the extremes will be back.

Oh dear, the French are really screwed now.

The French witnessed our experience and said, mon Dieu, save us from that!

Not even in the same category. But it'll be interesting to see how this will all shape up. I'm giving him and his newly formed party a year.

The decline of France is accelerating.

And the first geriatric cougar as first lady.

Who abandons 3 kids and a husband to marry a male 24 years her junior? And what kind of Oedipus complex must Macron have to want that in return?