French Presidency 2017 - European Leaders Stand United Behind Centrist Candidate Macron

Emmanuel Macron, the centrist candidate who appeals to both left and right voters won the first round with about 23 percent of the votes. Following him is Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front (FN) who secured about 21 percent in the voting poll. Le Pen will now face Emmanuel Macron, the former Socialist minister, in the run for the French presidency. Many foreign politicians reacted this Sunday to the outcome of the first round of the French presidential election. The platform of the two finalists, Emmanuel Macron (En marche!) and Marine Le Pen (National Front) are at the opposite end of each other, especially regarding Europe, which leads to clear positions within leaders of the European Union (EU). Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the European Commission, congratulated Mr. Macron. According to his spokesperson, Margaritis Schinas, Mr. Junker wished him the best for the second round, on May 7th. Angela Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert said the German Chancellor wished him "good luck", praising "his position for a strong EU". Federica Mogherini, the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, also welcomed his performance. "Emmanuel Macron brings hope and future to our generation." Former European Parliament President Martin Schulz, who will lead the SPD (German Social Democratic Party) in the next German parliamentary elections in September against Angela Merkel, said he hoped that Mr. Macron would win on May 7 against "the anti-European candidate". [caption id="attachment_1513" align="aligncenter" width="695"] Marine Le Pen goes ahead to the second round of the French presidential elections against Macron.[/caption] Extreme right-wing MP Geert Wilders, an ally of Marine Le Pen, told the Dutch news agency ANP that the first round was "a radiant day for patriots in France and elsewhere who want more national sovereignty, less EU, and immigration."