Europe’s newspapers reacted with cautious optimism after Emmanuel Macron beat far-right Marine Le Pen to the French presidency, with many focusing on the fact the centrist will be the youngest French leader since Napoleon.
In France, left-leaning papers couldn’t contain their enthusiasm at Macron’s landslide win â he beat Le Pen 66.1 percent to 33.9.
Le Figaro, using a photograph of Macron with his arms raised in victory, proclaimed it a “Win by walking,” a word-play on Macron’s En Marche movement. Le Parisien went with a similar photo of Macron smiling and holding his arms aloft â though with his face in shadow â and focused on the president-elect’s youth. “39 years old and president!” the paper exclaimed.
Across the pond, British tabloids were quietly indignant at Macron’s win â that’s if they mentioned it on the front page at all. The Daily Mirror featured the headline: “Why the new French leader could be bad for Brexit deal.” The broadsheets were more interested in the French runoff, though equally concerned about the impact Macron’s presidency will have on Brexit negotiations. The Daily Telegraph said of the result: “France’s new hope puts cloud over Brexit.” The Times declared it a “Landslide for Macron.”
Britain’s left-leaning papers heralded the centrist’s win. “Macron marches to victory,” wrote the I paper. “Political center strikes back.” The Guardian took a more somber approach, using a photo of a grim-faced Macron, writing: “Macron wins presidency â but a country remains divided.”
The Independent used a photo of a pair of kissing Macron supporters, along with the headline: “France stems tide of populist revolution.” It went on to warn the new French president was set to make British Prime Minister Theresa May’s negotiations with the EU tougher.
Belgium’s Le Soir had the familiar photo of Macron with arms raised, though looking pensive, with the headline: “For Macron, everything begins.”
Italy’s La Repubblica saw Macron’s victory as “the turning point for Europe.” The paper used a photo of the smiling president-elect on stage, holding hands with his wife Brigitte.
In Spain, El PaÃs declared that France had defeated radicalism, while El Mundo said the country had put itself in Macron’s hands.
Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine used a photo of Macron giving a thumbs up to a crowd of supporters, with the headline: “Macron is chosen as French president.” Die Tageszeitung expressed obvious relief at the election result. “Phew!” the paper’s front page proclaimed.
