Emmanuel Macron won the French presidential elections today, defeating his rival Marine Le Pen and becoming the first French president to secure a second term in 20 years. Macron, 44, was elected after receiving 58 percent of the votes, compared to 42 percent for Le Pen, 53, according to preliminary results. Recent polls had shown Macron with a significant lead over his opponent, and analysts noted that Le Pen still remains unpalatable to many voters, despite her efforts to improve her image and soften some of the policies of the National Rally party she leads.
As of 5 PM, voter turnout was 63.23 percent, a decrease of two percentage points compared to the 2017 elections. In the first round, Macron garnered about 28 percent of the votes, while the far-right candidate received 23.15 percent. Observers say Macron will face a challenging second term, especially due to the economic implications of the war in Ukraine, along with protests against his reform plan aimed at fostering a business-friendly environment, which includes raising the retirement age from 62 to 65.
Macron's first challenge will be to secure a win in the upcoming parliamentary elections in June to ensure a majority that can support the implementation of his agenda. Notably, no French president has won a second term in the past two decades, with the last being Jacques Chirac in May 2002.
