German top politicians in the traffic light coalition and the Union congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election – and in some cases expressed their relief.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz acknowledged Macron’s re-election as a commitment to Europe. “Félicitations, congratulations, dear President @EmmanuelMacron,” congratulated the SPD politician on Twitter. »Your voters also sent a strong commitment to Europe today. I am pleased that we are continuing our good cooperation! « Scholz personally congratulated the liberal Macron on his election victory in a telephone call in the evening – as the first foreign head of government, as government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced. The Chancellor and the President had reaffirmed their will to continue the “close and trusting relations” between Germany and France.
Bundestag President Bärbel Bas (SPD) spoke on Twitter on Sunday evening of “good news for Europe and for the continuation of Franco-German friendship”. “Certainly not only a stone falls from my heart,” tweeted Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir (Greens). Green leader Omid Nouripour combined his congratulations to Macron with the assessment that the “normalization of extremist discourse” in the French election campaign was a warning. »It is important to stand up for democracy and freedom with all our might and to defend our European values.«
Steinmeier: Good news for Germans
“I am pleased that the majority of French voters support your pro-European course,” wrote Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Sunday evening, according to the Federal President’s Office. “Your re-election is also good news for us Germans.” Steinmeier acknowledged that Macron took office with a clear commitment to an open world order, with a vision for a strong, sovereign Europe and a firm belief in the Franco-German partnership.
The FDP chairman and Federal Minister of Finance Christian Lindner spoke of a “choice of direction”. “It was about fundamental questions of values,” he also wrote on Twitter. »The French have decided in favor of Macron. This makes a united Europe the biggest winner of this election.« CDU leader Friedrich Merz explained in the same way that Europe had also won today. »Now a new attempt at Franco-German cooperation is possible and necessary!«
The SPD party executive wrote on Twitter: “France has made a choice. For Europe and for solidarity.«
CSU boss Markus Söder rated Macron’s victory as a “good signal for Europe”. »Unity and cohesion are particularly important right now. Europe only works together,” wrote the Bavarian Prime Minister on Twitter.
Biden: “France is our oldest ally”
US President Joe Biden also congratulated Macron on his re-election. “France is our oldest ally and a key partner on global issues,” Biden wrote on Twitter. He looks forward to continuing close cooperation, for example in supporting Ukraine, defending democracy and fighting climate change.
EU looks forward to further cooperation
European Parliament President Roberta Metsola congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his “very successful re-election”. She looks forward to continuing to work with France under the current French EU Presidency and to address the challenges of an increasingly uncertain and troubling world. A strong EU needs a strong France, Metsola wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also congratulated. “I am pleased to be able to continue our good cooperation,” wrote the German politician on Twitter. »Together we will advance France and Europe.«
EU Council President Charles Michel was also relieved about Macron’s re-election. “We can count on France for five more years,” wrote the Belgian on Twitter on Sunday evening. “In these turbulent times we need a strong Europe and a France fully committed to a more sovereign and strategic European Union.” Michel wrote: “Congratulations, dear Emmanuel Macron.”
Johnson: France is an important partner
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described France as his country’s close partner. “I congratulate you on your re-election as President of France, Emmanuel Macron,” Johnson wrote on Twitter on Sunday evening, also attaching his congratulations in French. “France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues that matter most to both our countries and the world.”
Italian top politicians also congratulated. Prime Minister Mario Draghi spoke on Sunday evening of “wonderful news for all of Europe”.
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also sees Macron’s victory as a sign of the fight against extremism. The French did not just choose a strong country in a strong Europe on Sunday, the Belgian wrote in a congratulatory letter to Macron published on Twitter on Sunday evening. France also relied on democratic values and the values of the Enlightenment.
Ukraine Ambassador: Macron win will bolster support
The Ukrainian ambassador in Paris also congratulated Macron on his re-election. Vadym Omelchenko wrote on Twitter that he was “convinced that this victory will further strengthen the support of Ukraine, which is counting on its friends and partners”. He also called Macron’s victory a “victory of the French people who speak the same language of resistance and freedom”.
Weber: Macron’s concept failed
The German European politician Manfred Weber also sees Macron’s re-election as a failure of the election winner. Europe can now take a deep breath, wrote the head of the Christian Democratic EPP Group in the European Parliament on Twitter. But it is clear that this is not a convincing victory. Five years of the liberal Macron would have made populists and extremes stronger than ever. “Perhaps this was the final warning shot. Macron has been re-elected, his political concept has failed.« France needs a strong debate and strong alternatives in the democratic center. A fight between progressives and populists is the wrong way and endangers European integration.
AfD happy with Le Pen’s result
The AfD congratulated the defeated Le Pen. Party leader Tino Chrupalla said: “I congratulate our partner Marine Le Pen on her strong result.” Macron only achieved a “sham victory”. Hungary’s Prime Minister “Victor Orban and Marine Le Pen meet with enormous approval in their countries”. “Together we will change the continent of Europe,” he added.
Three days before the election, Chrupalla called on the French to vote for Marine Le Pen. He literally said: “If you care about the identity of France and social peace in your homeland, you must vote for Marine Le Pen.”
© dpa-infocom, dpa:220424-99-28987/11
–
