In Germany and Europe, there was great concern about the right-wing candidate Le Pen being elected. Some politicians are now all the more relieved. The reactions at a glance.
German top politicians in the traffic light coalition and the Union congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election – and in some cases expressed their relief.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged Macron’s re-election as a commitment to Europe. “Félicitations, congratulations, dear President @EmmanuelMacron,” congratulated the SPD politician on Twitter. «Your voters have also sent a strong commitment to Europe today. I am pleased that we will continue our good cooperation!»
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) spoke on Twitter on Sunday evening of “good news for Europe and for the continuation of Franco-German friendship”. “Certainly, I’m not the only one who takes a load off my mind,” tweeted Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens). Greens leader Omid Nouripour combined his congratulations to Macron with the assessment that the “normalization of extremist discourses” in the French election campaign was a warning. “It is important to stand up for democracy and freedom with all our might and to defend our European values.”
Steinmeier: Good news for Germans
“I am pleased that the majority of French voters support your pro-European course,” wrote Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday evening, according to the Office of the Federal President. “Your re-election is also good news for us Germans.” Macron started with a clear commitment to an open world order, with a vision for a strong, sovereign Europe and a firm belief in the Franco-German partnership, Steinmeier acknowledged.
The FDP chairman and Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner spoke of a “choice of direction”. “It was about fundamental questions of values,” he also wrote on Twitter. “The French have decided in favor of Macron. This makes the united Europe the biggest winner of this election.” CDU leader Friedrich Merz said in the same way that Europe had also won today. “Now a new attempt at Franco-German cooperation is possible and necessary!”
The SPD party executive wrote on Twitter: “France has made a choice. For Europe and for cohesion.”
EU looks forward to further cooperation
EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his “very successful re-election”. She looks forward to continuing to work with France under the current French EU Presidency and to address the challenges of an increasingly uncertain and troubling world. A strong EU needs a strong France, Metsola wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated. “I am pleased to be able to continue our good cooperation,” wrote the German politician on Twitter. “Together we will advance France and Europe.”
EU Council President Charles Michel was also relieved about Macron’s re-election. “We can count on France for five more years,” wrote the Belgian on Twitter on Sunday evening. “In these turbulent times, we need a strong Europe and a France fully committed to a more sovereign and strategic European Union.” Michel wrote: “Congratulations, dear Emmanuel Macron.”
Johnson: France is an important partner
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described France as his country’s close partner. “I congratulate Emmanuel Macron on his re-election as President of France,” Johnson wrote on Twitter on Sunday evening, also attaching his congratulations in French. «France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues that matter most to both our countries and the world.”
Italian top politicians also congratulated. Prime Minister Mario Draghi spoke of “wonderful news for all of Europe” on Sunday evening.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also sees Macron’s victory as a sign of the fight against extremism. The French did not just choose a strong country in a strong Europe on Sunday, the Belgian wrote in a congratulatory letter to Macron published on Twitter on Sunday evening. France also relied on democratic values and the values of the Enlightenment.
Weber: Macron’s concept failed
The German European politician Manfred Weber also sees Macron’s re-election as a failure of the election winner. Europe can now take a deep breath, wrote the head of the Christian Democratic EPP Group in the European Parliament on Twitter. But it is clear that this is not a convincing victory. Five years of the liberal Macron would have made populists and extremes stronger than ever. “This was perhaps the last warning shot. Macron has been re-elected, his political concept has failed.” France needs a strong debate and strong alternatives in the democratic center. A fight between progressives and populists is the wrong way and endangers European integration.
AfD happy with Le Pen’s result
The AfD congratulated the defeated Le Pen. Party leader Tino Chrupalla said: “I congratulate our partner Marine Le Pen on her strong result.” Macron only won a “fictitious victory”. Hungary’s Prime Minister “Victor Orban and Marine Le Pen meet with enormous approval in their countries”. “Together we will change the continent of Europe,” he added.
Three days before the election, Chrupalla called on the French to vote for Marine Le Pen. He literally said: “If you care about the identity of France and social peace in your homeland, you must vote for Marine Le Pen.”
Source: Stern
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