Macron wins second term as president, projections show

Emmanuel Macron is set to secure a second term as president of France after defeating far-right challenger Marine Le Pen, projections have revealed.

The incumbent president is on track to win around 58 per cent of the second round of voting, with Le Pen receiving 42 per cent.

Projections used by French media are compiled by a combination of real results and exit polls and are considered highly reliable in a two-way contest.

The win will make Macron the first president to be re-elected in 20 years and the first to claim victory while in full control of the government.

Brussels welcomed the projected win for pro-EU Macron today after concerns had grown over France’s future in the bloc under a Le Pen presidency.

“Warm congratulations dear Emmanuel Macron,” President of the European Council, Charles Michel tweeted this evening.

“In this turbulent period, we need a solid Europe and a France totally committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union. We can count on the #France #5 more years.”

The election campaign has revealed deep divisions at the heart of French politics and marks Le Pen’s most successful bid for the presidency across three campaigns in the past decade.

The incumbent president appeared vulnerable early in the campaign as Le Pen closed the lead to within the margin of polling error, but Macron pulled ahead in the first round of the vote when he won 28 per cent of votes against Le Pen’s 23 per cent.

More to follow…