French expatriates in London today welcomed the election of “France’s JFK” — but warned that incoming president Emmanuel Macron had a “huge task ahead”.
As exit polls predicted a decisive victory for the former investment banker over Marine Le Pen, a loud cheer went up from guests at the French ambassador’s Kensington residence.
However, the celebrations were tinged with concern that the far-Right challenger had come so close to the Elysée Palace.
Polls showed she won about 11 million votes, almost double the number her father Jean-Marie Le Pen managed against Jacques Chirac in 2002.
Investment banker Jean-Francois Le Ruyet, 49, said he was “very pleased” that Mr Macron had triumphed over his opponent’s “anti-Europe” platform.
He said: “Sixty five per cent is a good result, but compared to 2002 it is not an amazing result. For me as a European, [Le Pen] is very anti-Europe, with very populist ideas. It would have been embarrassing for me as a Frenchman if she had been elected.”
Mr Le Ruyet said of Mr Macron: “I think he’s the new Kennedy of France — a younger guy with good ideas. France needed some change, and the old guard didn’t prove able to make any change.”
Olivier Morel, 54, the UK president of business think tank Conseillers du Commerce Exterieur, said: “What I find attractive in him is that his programme is positive, is looking forward, and it’s hopeful, and he’s so much younger which is a good thing.”
But Mr Morel conceded that the new president had a “huge task ahead” in the face of parliamentary elections next month, when Mr Macron’s En Marche! Party could struggle to win a majority.
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