Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen saw off their opponents and secured places in a May 7 runoff vote after taking out the top two spots in the first round of the French presidential election Sunday. Newspapers around Europe saw the result as a defeat of the establishment.
Society featured a striking, scarlet front page on Monday, characterizing the runoff as a choice between progress and death. Le Figaro wrote: “The elimination of François Fillon,” the embattled conservative candidate, “constitutes a historic defeat of the right.” Meanwhile, the left-wing L’Humanité featured a photo of Le Pen on its front page, subtitled with the proclamation: “Never,” and called on its readers to unite against the far right.
Libération, using a close-up shot of Macron’s face, said the presidency was now one step away.
Across the Channel, the Guardian called the results “a blow to the establishment.” The Times was scathing, stating: “French elite humiliated as outsiders sweep to victory.” The Daily Mail called it the “New French Revolution.”
Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said the election had “shaken France,” adding that even the centrist Macron wanted to “break with the political system.” Die Welt called the result a “sensation,” and all but crowned Macron the country’s new president.
In Spain, El Mundo said the “hegemonic parties of the Fifth Republic have been punished,” as Macron looked set to become the next French president.
In Belgium, Le Soir featured an image of a tense-looking Macron, and the headline: “On the way to the Elysee.”
Switzerland’s Le Temps said the May 7 runoff would be “An equation with two unknowns” as a result of the defeat of France’s two main parties, Les Républicains and the ruling Socialists.
SOCIETY: Marche ou Crève #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/yZtzJZsFi8
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 23, 2017
La UNE du @Le_Figaro demain #Presidentielle2017 pic.twitter.com/OpYG2EgzP6
— Sandra Da Silva (@SandraDa23) April 23, 2017
LIBERATION: Presidentielle : A une Marche #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/ugeMgqouMZ
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 23, 2017
A la une de l'Humanité demain Lundi 24 avril : #SecondTour Marine le Pen, jamais. https://t.co/q0L8s08vGS #PremierTour #Presidentielle2017 pic.twitter.com/kxGqYdlmKF
— l'Humanité.fr (@humanite_fr) April 23, 2017
GUARDIAN It's Macron versus Le Pen #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/mVDhkOQc86
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 23, 2017
TIMES: French elite humiliated as outsiders sweep to victory #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/4UVWICjgrs
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 23, 2017
MAIL: New French Revolution #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/LnUmmcHB3s
— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 23, 2017
#LaPortada del lunes 24 de abril. pic.twitter.com/D3NAPpE2cK
— EL MUNDO (@elmundoes) April 23, 2017
«Une équation à deux inconnues» : la Une du journal @LeTemps du 24 avril. #presidentielle2017 pic.twitter.com/3AAw2kceMw
— Le Temps (@letemps) April 23, 2017