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Macron was re-elected president of France, but the strong performance of his far-right rival Marine Le Pen has caused trouble for Macron's second term and warned NATO and the European Union. Because Macron's victory was shrouded by his rival Le Pen, Le Pen was credited with overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but she won the vote of the largest number of far-right candidates in the history of the French Republic.
It is reported that more than 12 million people across France have chosen Le Pen. And it's during Russia's war against Ukraine, and while television news shows images of bombed cities every day, there are still large numbers of French voters who support a candidate calling for an alliance with Moscow. Moreover, Le Pen has repeatedly and publicly stated that if elected, it will withdraw France from NATO's integrated command system.
In one of the founding nations of the European Union (EU), millions of people voted for the candidate, and her campaign platform advocates dismantling the EU from within by suspending the EU's free travel rules and lowering the supremacy of EU law. In his defeat speech, Le Pen told supporters, "The result is a great distrust of our leaders and the leaders of Europe." ”
At the same time, her strong performance will be seen as a warning to Brussels. For now, Brussels remains uneasy about the UK referendum to leave the EU and is caught up in a judicial battle with Poland and Hungary over a dispute over the rule of law. But the most immediate challenge will be Macron, who began his second term in a deeply divided country.
In France, political anger can easily erupt into street protests and violence. Macron himself acknowledged those differences in his victory speech, standing on an octagonal stage in front of the Eiffel Tower, saying, "Our country is full of doubts and divisions, so we need to be strong."
And turmoil is coming.
While the voting results mean that continuity will prevail in France, it also shows that the divisions that have plagued French politics for decades have not narrowed, but have widened with each consecutive election. Le Pen is already running for president for the third time, but she has not ruled out the possibility of running again, and there is no end to it politically. She has recovered from her 2017 defeat and significantly broadened the base of her party.
In her defeat speech, she hinted in a combative tone that she would lead her troops into battle when voters elected France's new parliament in June. Speaking to cheering supporters in Boulogne on the outskirts of Paris, Le Pen said, "This is an amazing victory. ”
And Eric Zemmour, the far-right presidential candidate eliminated in the first round, called for a "patriotic group" to unite him and Le Pen's supporters, hinting that Le Pen's party could be further strengthened. After the election results were announced, Zemur said, "We must forget the quarrels and unite our forces." It is possible, necessary, and our responsibility to establish the first right-wing and patriot union as soon as possible. ”
It is reported that Macron is about to usher in a second term in the case of high inflation and war in Ukraine, and it is not expected that there will be any "honeymoon period". There have been calls to start a "social third round" of France's so-called presidential elections, which will take place in the streets in protests. Left-wing voters, who pinch their noses and vote for Macron to prevent the far right from coming to power, are particularly motivated to put pressure on Macron's government.
And as Macron enters his second term, there will be plenty of opportunities for protest. Macron was elected on a platform to reform the state pension system, pushing the retirement age from 62 to 64 or 65. He also wants to reform and introduce more autonomy into French schools, an ambition that will put him in conflict with France's powerful teachers' union.
Meanwhile, in the short term, Macron's opponents are ready for battle for the June parliamentary elections. Macron will need a majority in the National Assembly to push for reforms, and the campaign is not expected to be easy. For the French left, parliamentary elections offer an opportunity for revenge.