Incoming French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. Photo / AP
Incoming French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. Photo / AP
Emmanuel Macron surged to victory against Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election today.
Le Pen had vowed to ditch the euro and hold a referendum on France's EU membership, while Macron wants closer cooperation between the bloc's 28 nations.
The election had huge repurcussions for France, the EU,Britain and the wider world. Here is how world leaders reacted to the result:
US: Donald Trump
The US president was quick to congratluate Macron and said he looked forward to working with him.
In a statement White House press secretary Sean Spicer said: "We congratulate President-elect Macron and the people of France on their successful presidential election. We look forward to working with the new President and continuing our close cooperation with the French government."
Macron says France is facing an "immense task" to rebuild European unity, fix the economy and ensure security against extremist threats. Photo / AP
UK: Theresa May
The Prime Minister offered warm wishes to Macron and welcomes a chance to work with him.
Downing Street said in a statement that May "warmly congratulates President-elect Macron on his election success".
In comments released immediately after exit polls showed Macron's victory, May said that France is one of Britain's closest allies and "we look forward to working with the new president on a wide range of shared priorities".
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said Macron's defeat of National Front leader Marine Le Pen has kept the far-right "wolves from our door".
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did not congratulate Macron by name but said: "I am delighted that the French people have decisively rejected Le Pen's politics of hate."
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who travelled to Paris for talks with Macron in March, said: "The French people have chosen hope over fear and unity over division."
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Vive La France. Congratulations to new president, Emmanuel Macron on his decisive victory over the hard right."
'@EmmanuelMacron offers 5 more years of failure, power to the EU and open borders. If @MLP_officiel sticks in there, she can win in 2022.
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, who backed Le Pen's bid for the Elysee Palace, said: "Macron offers five more years of failure, more power to the EU and a continuation of open borders.
EU: Jean-Claude Juncker
Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, said the result made him "happy that the ideas that you defended of a strong and progressive Europe that protects all its citizens will be those that France will cherish under your presidency".
Donald Tusk, the former Polish prime minister who chairs summits of European leaders, tweeted: "Congratulations to French people for choosing Liberty, Equality and Fraternity over tyranny of fake news" - an apparent reference to misleading stories about Macron that were spread on social media in the run-up to the vote.
Guy Verhofstadt, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, said: "We supported him from the very start. I am relieved by his defeat of demagoguery and populism. I am also proud of his commitment to a social, liberal European project."
Germany: Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said: "Your victory is a victory for a strong united Europe and for the Franco-German friendship."
Her chief of staff, Peter Altmaier, tweeted: "vive la France, Vive L'Europe!"
Merkel's chief spokesman, Steffen Seibert, also tweeted in French "felicitations" (congratulations). He said it was "a victory for a strong and united Europe".
Italy: Paolo Gentiloni and Matteo Renzi
Italian prime minister Paolo Gentiloni tweeted: "Hurrah Macron President! There is hope for Europe!"
Evviva #Macron Presidente Una speranza si aggira per l'Europa
The country's former prime minister, Matteo Renzi, echoed Gentiloni's message saying: "Macron's win represents an extraordinary hope for France and Europe! #EnMarche! #incammino".
La vittoria di #Macron scrive una straordinaria pagina di speranza per la Francia e per l'Europa. #EnMarche! #incammino
Renzi was recently elected to head of the ruling Democratic Party and campaigned with the slogan In Cammino (on the way), drawing comparisons to Mr Macron's En Marche.
Netherlands: Mark Rutte
Mark Rutte, the Dutch prime minister who won an election in March against opponents including right-wing populist Geert Wilders, has congratulated Macron on his victory.
Rutte said in a post on his official Facebook page that in Macron, French voters "made a clear progressive and pro-European choice." He said that "a choice for cooperation within Europe in areas where that is necessary, instead of an inward-looking vision."
In a tweet today night, Dutch foreign affairs minister Bert Koenders said that "France chooses for reform, for Europe and against xenophobia. We look forward to working together with the new French government."
Spain: Mariano Rajoy
Mariano Rajoy, the Spanish prime minister, said that France, with Emmanuel Macron as its new president, will help strengthen the European Union at a key moment for the 28-nation bloc.
In a telegram sent to congratulate the new president-elect of France, Rajoy praised Macron for his proposed reforms and his "firm defense of the European integration process."
Those principles and his solid backing from French voters, Rajoy said, mean "France - a friend, neighbour and strategic partner of Spain - will actively contribute to the advancement and reinforcement of the European Union in a key moment of its history."
Greece: Alexis Tsipras
Alexis Tsipras, Greece's prime minister, has tweeted his satisfaction over the election result: "victory is a fresh breath for France and the whole of Europe. I am certain we will work closely together for Europe to change course, inspire its people again so as to never again experience the nightmare of the extreme right."
Bohuslav Sobotka, the Czech prime minister, said that Macron's win is a "positive signal for France, the entire European Union and the Czech Republic."
Sobotka said that the French people "made it clear they reject nationalism, populism, and the isolation of their country. Most voters decided that they want a president who will represent a modern and open France."
Slovakia: Andrej Kiska
Andrej Kiska, the Slovak President, welcomed the French centrist's win: "Warm congratulations to Emmanuel Macron and to the people of France." Kiska says it's a "victory for all who believe in Europe."
Slovak foreign minister Miroslav Lajcak says he was "delighted to learn of Emmanuel Macron's victory."
New Zealand: Bill English
Bill English, the New Zealand prime minister, also congratulated Macron on his win: "Congratulations @EmmanuelMacron. Looking forward to working with you to further strengthen the NZ-France relationship."
Congratulations @EmmanuelMacron. Looking forward to working with you to further strengthen the NZ-France relationship.
Macron has promised a France that would stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin but that also would seek to work with Putin on fighting the Islamic State group, whose extremists have claimed or inspired multiple attacks in France since 2015.
