By Umamah Bakharia
Emmanuel Macron has won France’s presidential election by overpowering far-right candidate Marine Le Pen during Sunday’s runoff vote.
Macron took 58.5% of Sunday’s vote, making him the first French leader to be reelected in 20 years.
Radio Islam unpacks the French elections with french academic and PhD candidate of comparative law at the University of Toulouse in France, Rim Sarah Al-Oon.
“It was a very dirty political campaign- we have gone extremely low and of course, Macron won and it’s a relief somehow [but] there is nothing to celebrate in my opinion,” says Sarah.
In response to the tough presidential battle between Macron and Le Pen, she says: “when you have to choose at least you choose the person who is going to somehow abide by the book of law and not the person who might just deport you because of your religion or your skin colour.”
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) expressed their delight on Macron’s reinstatement:
“We can count on France for five more years,” European Council President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter.
“I am delighted to be able to continue our excellent cooperation,” tweeted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Sarah reiterates that French presidential candidates need to listen to the people of France.
“Those voices are being ignored until the second round when we are trying to lure them to vote for them because their voices are needed,” says Sarah.
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