What’s so important about the recent French Presidential Elections?
France is a beautiful country in Europe. It’s famous for the Eiffel Tower and is a popular vacation destination. The French Presidential Elections took place recently. The whole world had its eyes set on who the next president of France would be. What made this election so important?
Russia recently declared war on Ukraine. The European Union (EU), including France, has been supporting Ukraine through this hard time. But this election could have changed that.
Both people contesting the French elections supported opposite sides in the Russia-Ukraine war. Since France has the strongest military in the EU, this election’s result would have greatly affected the future of the world.
Let’s meet the contestants - Macron and Le Pen.
Emmanuel Macron is a banker who joined politics and became France’s youngest-ever president in 2017 (when he was 39!).
Under Macron, France’s economy had prospered. But he has also received criticism for some of his policies, which many think are in support of big companies and against employees.
Marine Le Pen is a lawyer turned politician. She supports workers’ rights over companies. She wants to reduce income tax, increase salaries, and provide cheap housing to French people.
Who’s on which side of the war?
Emmanuel Macron supports Ukraine and its President Volodymyr Zelensky. He wants the EU to provide Ukraine with weapons and give people escaping the war a place to live in France.
Marine Le Pen is a supporter of Vladimir Putin, the Russian President who started the war against Ukraine. Like Emmanuel Macron, she too is against the war but says that she supports Putin’s policies.
Tell me who won the French election!
Macron won with 58 percent of the votes. Le Pen received 42 percent. Macron may have become president for a second time, but he received fewer votes this time. The EU countries have breathed a sigh of relief that a Ukraine supporter has been elected.
