Pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron promised Sunday to heal France’s divisions after crushing far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a pivotal presidential election that has given him a large but fragile mandate for change.
At 39, the pro-EU former investment banker will become France’s youngest-ever leader but faces a huge challenge to enact his programme while trying to unite a fractured and demoralised country.
“I will fight with all my strength against the divisions that are undermining us,” Macron said in a solemn address at his campaign headquarters.
As the extent of his resounding victory sank in, Macron told a sea jubilant supporters waving French flags outside the Louvre Museum in Paris: “Tonight, France won.”
Latest partial results showed Macron winning 65.17 percent of the votes in the first ever election he has contested, far ahead of the nationalist Le Pen at 34.83 percent.
