the big “phew” of relief from Europeans seen by the press

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One word sums up the general feeling, a tiny big word on the front page of a German newspaper, Monday, April 25: “Phew!” It’s the title of the Suddeutsche Zeitung. Three letters that concentrate immense relief from European capitals after the re-election of Emmanuel Macron for a second presidential term. This does not prevent the daily from showing concern about the state of French society: certainly, this time, the far right did not win. But “Why have we allowed the hateful and revisionist speeches of recent months to pass with such indifference?”asks the newspaper. “Why do we allow Marine Le Pen to set herself up with impunity as protector of the working classes? A serious questioning is needed in the media, schools, universities, and even at the counter of cafes”.

Same tone across the Channel. “Yes, France is saved and Europe with it (…), writing The Independent. But it is appalling, even frightening that so many people in this old democratic culture have voluntarily wanted to install a neo-fascist at the Élysée..

Emmanuel Macron’s European commitment in any case reassures the 27. The president had not even taken the stage after his victory to the sound of the European anthem (The Ode to Joy of Beethoven) that a rain of messages flooded the social networks. Like the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, who had implicitly called for a vote for him, the leaders of the Union welcome the re-election of Emmanuel Macron “a strong signal” in favor of Europe.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, who represents the Member States, sends him a “warm congratulations”. “In this turbulent period, we need a solid Europe and a France totally committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union”he tweeted, rejoicing to be able to “count on France for five more years”. It is “magnificent news” even says the Italian Mario Draghi. For the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, “Macron did not seek to play a façade of Euroscepticism like so many other troubled politicians. He had the courage to present the Union as the solution to the problems linked to globalization or to the questions of identity.”

Except that the challenges are immense for the next five years. It is also one of Weather, in Swiss: “The challenge”with a photo of the re-elected president with a thoughtful gaze. “Emmanuel Macron, 44, has achieved an undeniable political performance in a country fractured by anger and shaken, like many Western democracies, by a strong wind of ‘clearance’. writing Richard Werly in the Swiss daily.

In France, its priority task will be to “to mend a fractured France”judges the Spanish newspaper El País. Sophie Pedder, of the British weekly The Economistconfirms that the main threat of this second five-year term could come from the street and “all the French people who have lost faith in representative democracy – the left behind, those who are angry, feel forgotten, are disillusioned, (all those who) feel that Emmanuel Macron does not represent them “. Moreover “Jean-Luc Mélenchon is waiting for him at the turn” for the legislative ones, written the Stampa. “With all the radical left to which Emmanuel Macron has never spoken”. The Italian daily denounces the arrogance of the Head of State, who “always catches up” because he is that type of man “who doesn’t know what it means to live in the suburbs, who talks about equality, but doesn’t even know how much a metro ticket costs and travels first”. On the European scene, Emmanuel Macron will have to advance files “more sovereign Europe” in terms of defense control of borders.

On the question of the war in Ukraine, several newspapers like Last Spiegel underline that with the defeat of Marine Le Pen, it is “Putin who lost the presidential election”. Volodymyr Zelensky for his part published a tweet in French to salute the victory of a “true friend of Ukraine”.

After many European and American officials who have already made the trip, the Head of State should soon make the trip to kyiv.


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