By Karan Brar
April 25, 2022
Emmanuel Macron has held off a challenge from far-right leader Marine Le Pen to retain the French presidency
Macron took 58.5% of the vote, making him the first French leader to be reelected in 20 years, while Le Pen took 41.5%.
Voter abstention rate for the runoff was 28%, the highest in more than 50 years, according to French media
The results are better than expected, but a slimmer margin than the last time he faced off against Le Pen
Macron came on stage tonight under the Eiffel Tower, and here he is speaking to the crowd. He acknowledged that many of you here tonight did not vote for him, but you just did it to block the far-right.
In his victory speech, Macron vowed to be the "president for each and every one of you."
Le Pen called her results "a shining victory," saying that "in this defeat, I can't help but feel a form of hope."
He also addressed those who supported Le Pen directly, saying that he, as president, must find an answer to "the anger and disagreements" that led them to vote for the far right.