Europe, US, and AU Congratulate Emmanuel Macron on His Re-Election

After a fiercely fought election with far-right opponent Marine Le Pen, Emmanuel Macron secured reelection on Sunday.

KAMPALA | LIFESTYLE UGANDA (https://lifestyleuganda.com/) — Following an intense contest with far-right veteran opposition Marine Le Pen, French President Emmanuel Macron won reelection on Sunday. 

• US President Joe Biden expressed his interest in “close cooperation,” including aiding Ukraine.
• Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the AU, called Macron’s win a “brilliant” re-election.
• Moussa Faki Mahamat urged France and Africa to strengthen “mutually beneficial” relations.
• Boris Johnson, the UK’s prime minister, also congratulated him in a tweet below.

A statement issued by AU Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat described the re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron as a “brilliant” vote.

In a tweet, Moussa Faki Mahamat called for the continuation of “renewed and mutually beneficial relations” between France and Africa.

President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, meanwhile, described Macron’s re-election as the culmination of his domestic political actions as well as his commitment to international affairs.

Marine Le Pen, who surpassed the 40% mark for the first time, recorded a history-making score with 41.4% of the vote, losing to Emmanuel Macron with more than 58.5%.

During his first term, Emmanuel Macron promised to break the French policy in Africa, addressing particularly the youth during his speech in Ouagadougou in November 2017.

Entrepreneurs, artists, and sportsmen, but not heads of state, attended an October 2021 gathering in Montpellier (south) where African, French, and diaspora civil societies discussed economic, cultural and political activities.

It was stated at the time that the French presidency wanted to “get out of formulas and obsolete networks”, in other words, to break, again and again, with “Françafrique”, its opaque practices, and its network of influence.

In February, after a long crisis and in the face of anti-French sentiments, France and its European partners formally withdrew their troops from Mali, which has seen two coups since August 2020.

On the eve of a European Union-African Union summit in Brussels, and as accusations against France’s actions in the region grew in Africa, the head of state called for European and African cooperation on a “new alliance.”

For now, Emmanuel Macron can celebrate his survival, but in the next five years, he faces the task of reuniting his country politically and strengthening African ties.

The victory of Mr Macron was welcomed by relieved European leaders, who had been worried about a far-right candidate offering anti-EU policies.

First, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated him, mentioning their common challenge in responding to Russia’s war in Ukraine. US President Joe Biden expressed his interest in “close cooperation,” including aiding Ukraine.

In the tweet below, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated him on his victory.