The win of the centrist president appears to be more of a rejection of his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen than a vote of confidence.
The exit polls show that the gap between the two candidates is much smaller than it was in the presidential election. Another sign of waning enthusiasm for their president was the low turnout.
There were fears that Le Pen could cut political and economic ties to the EU if he became France's president. They show how she has been able to broaden her reach by focusing on economic issues.
Two weeks ago, the first round of the presidential election in France showed that the public was moving away from the center. The trend was underscored by Le Pen's gains on Sunday.
The politician toned down her rhetoric by abandoning her proposal for France to leave the EU. She focused on domestic economic issues. In a survey conducted before the election, purchasing power was the top issue cited by 42% of participants.
The government set aside over 15 billion dollars to cap electricity and natural gas costs. The president's economic policies, including proposals to slash the wealth tax and lift the retirement age, have been met with opposition.
His handling of Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war seem to have earned him points with some voters. Le Pen has a friendlier attitude towards Putin.
Despite his victory, Macron will be facing growing divisions among French voters fanned by Le Pen's campaign.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
