Summary

  • Emmanuel Macron defeats Marine Le Pen to win French presidency

  • He won over 66% of the vote

  • Macron set up his centrist En Marche movement only 13 months ago

  • He has promised to fight division and promote hope and reconciliation

  • Marine Le Pen hailed a "historic, massive result" for the far right

  • Turnout was around 74%, the lowest for a run-off in almost 50 years

  1. President-elect's first ceremonypublished at 09:58 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    President-elect Macron is on his way to a ceremony in central Paris to mark the end of World War Two in 1945.

    Elite French guards are parading near the Arc de Triomphe.

    Arc de Triomphe, 8 May 17Image source, screenshot
  2. Wow - youngest French president ever!published at 09:45 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    French leftist daily Liberation has a children's guide, external to Macron's victory. 

    No doubt this point will stick in young French minds: "At the age of 39 and a half years he is the youngest French president in history!" 

  3. Macron's economic agendapublished at 09:32 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Mr Macron has big ambitions to tackle France's economic malaise.

    He aims to save €60bn (£51bn; $66bn) over five years, partly by cutting 120,000 public sector jobs.

    He proposes various tax breaks for businesses and major reforms of the eurozone. 

    Read about his plans in this analysis by BBC Business Reporter Simon Atkinson.

  4. What is Macron's view of Brexit?published at 09:16 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Mr Macron wants to ensure that Brexit does not undermine the EU. He wants no special favours for the British. Watch our quick video guide. 

    Media caption,

    Macron is the new French president, but what does this mean for Brexit negotiations?

  5. Macron 'won't want to punish UK'published at 08:56 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    Emmanuel Macron's chief economic adviser says the new president-elect will not want to punish the UK in Brexit negotiations. 

    Jean Pisani-Ferry said no one wanted a hard Brexit, and made it clear there was a mutual interest in keeping the prosperity that exists. He said Mr Macron would be tough, but would not want to punish.  

  6. Germany 'first foreign visit'published at 08:49 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Mr Macron's first foreign visit will be to Germany, French liberal MEP Sylvie Goulard says.

    Ms Goulard - a prominent Macron supporter - said he might first meet French troops stationed in Germany. 

    Chancellor Angela Merkel warmly congratulated Mr Macron by phone last night, praising his strong advocacy of a "united EU, open to the world". 

    For most of its history the EU has been driven by the so-called "Franco-German motor". Germany is now significantly stronger, as France has struggled with economic malaise - including much higher unemployment - for a decade or so. 

    In their bad-tempered TV debate last week, Mr Macron's rival Ms Le Pen said he would seek Mrs Merkel's "blessing" for everything. 

    "France will be led by a woman, in any case - Mrs Merkel or me," the National Front leader said caustically. 

    Reichstag building, BerlinImage source, Getty Images
  7. Macron victory speech - full textpublished at 08:03 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    There were two big themes in Mr Macron's victory speech: overcoming the divisions which weaken France and bringing the European project closer to ordinary citizens.

    Read the full text here.

    Macron addresses supporters after winningImage source, Getty Images
  8. Ceremonial duties for Macronpublished at 07:49 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Marking WW2 liberation from Nazism

    President-elect Macron will get stuck into his new ceremonial duties immediately - honouring the French military.

    In the next few hours he will mark the World War Two ceasefire in Paris - in 1945 - alongside President François Hollande, French LCI news reports. 

    First they will lay flowers at the statue of Gen Charles de Gaulle - the French WW2 leader - in Place Clémenceau. 

    Then they will go up the famous Champs-Elysées, review the troops, and lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The flame burns constantly at the Arc de Triomphe. 

    Tomb of Unknown Soldier, ParisImage source, AFP
  9. Watch: 'The challenge facing Macron is huge'published at 07:44 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Today Programme
    BBC Radio 4

    Media caption,

    French MP Axelle Lemaire says the challenge facing Macron to unite the country is huge

  10. Record abstention ratepublished at 07:17 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    A record number of French voters rejected both candidates in Sunday's decisive presidential second round between Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen.

    News channel BFMTV reports, external that more than 12 million abstained, or turned up only to cast a spoilt ballot or blank ballot paper.

    That is more than the entire number of votes cast for Ms Le Pen, the National Front (FN) leader.

    Voters in StrasbourgImage source, AFP
  11. French 'chose European future'published at 06:46 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, tweeted: "Happy that the French have chosen a European future. Together for a stronger and fairer Europe."

    President of the European Council Donald Tusk - the man who chairs EU summits - tweeted: "Congratulations to French people for choosing Liberty, Equality and Fraternity over tyranny of fake news."

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  12. Election night - watch how it unfoldedpublished at 06:34 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Bonjour - and welcome to our live coverage of the French presidential election, won by independent centrist Emmanuel Macron.

    For a quick roundup of this landmark event in French politics watch our video.

    Media caption,

    French election results night... in 120 seconds

  13. Macron's meteoric risepublished at 06:20 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    France is "en marche" (on the move). And there is excitement about this new political direction.

    So how did a talented young investment banker sweep away the old model of French politics?

    Read our profile of Emmanuel Macron.

    Emmanuel Macron, 1 May 17Image source, AFP
  14. Macron likes 'long lunches and his dog'published at 05:56 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    He remains close to his roots, analyst says

    French journalist and political analyst Nabila Ramdani says Mr Macron must tackle "deep-seated problems such as unemployment and terrorism".

    Calling the National Front "the politics of prejudice and hate", she told BBC World News TV "there is no easy solution to that". 

    But she is upbeat about next month's key test for Mr Macron - the parliamentary elections.

    His goal is to get at least 290 seats for a working majority. She estimates he can get 240-286, as "there's a good dynamic building around Macron".

    But she added: "He's a strange mix of hard-working capitalist and relaxed Frenchman who likes his friends, long lunches and his dog." (He has a mastiff called Figaro.)

    "He's a typical provincial Frenchman, who has kept his roots. He has to convince that he is a president for all.. He's no Supermac." 

    Nabila RamdaniImage source, @NabilaRamdani
  15. French newspaper front pagespublished at 05:18 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Here's the front page from left-wing newspaper Libération that its readers will wake up to.

    The caption for Ms Le Pen means "serves you right" while the caption for Mr Macron says "well played".

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    Centre-right Le Figaro has the headline "Walking to victory", punning on the name of Mr Macron's En Marche movement. But the paper focuses on his far-from-certain chances of winning a majority in upcoming legislative elections.

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    The financial newspaper Les Echos says "France dares" on its front page. 

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  16. Yes Macron is young - but so are some other European leaderspublished at 04:43 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    David Cameron and Barack Obama in 2010Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    And you thought these two were young?

    France's next president is, let's face it, pretty youthful.

    In 2010, David Cameron became the youngest UK prime minister since 1812 when he came to office at 43.

    Barack Obama was also thought to be quite sprightly when he became US president in 2009 at the age of 47.

    But Mr Macron, at just 39, is much younger. Still, he has some competition in Europe.

    In Belgium, Prime Minister Charles Michel was 38 when he became PM in 2014. Last year, Juri Ratas became Estonian PM at 38. In Hungary, Viktor Orban was just 35 when he became PM for the first time in 1998, and Greek Prime MInister Alexis Tsipras was 40 when he was first took office in January 2015.

  17. What does Marine Le Pen do now?published at 03:45 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    The BBC's James Reynolds spent election night at Le Pen HQ in Paris. He's been assessing what the defeated candidate may do next:

    Media caption,

    One of the first things Ms Le Pen did following her loss was dance

    At the party's campaign headquarters on election night, supporters carried blue-coloured roses, Marine Le Pen's favoured symbol.

    The heavily defeated candidate even danced, external to I Love Rock and Roll (incidentally demonstrating that whatever presentational skills she possesses do not immediately transfer to the disco floor).

    It may have been a strange way for a beaten presidential hopeful to spend the night, but this party has long term plans. Supporters will save their blue roses for 2022.

    Read more from James here.

  18. The face-off in France's citiespublished at 02:44 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Map of France

    Emmanuel Macron - who defends internationalism, free trade and liberal values - was always expected to perform better in cities than Marine Le Pen.

    Results show that in Paris, he won close to 90% of the vote. But he didn't perform better in all cities compared to his nationwide share of 66% - look at the results for the right-leaning French Riviera city of Nice, for example.

    The Mediterranean south-east is seen as a stronghold for the National Front.

    Results in biggest French cities by population

    1. Paris

    • Macron: 89.68% (849,251)
    • Le Pen: 10.32% (97,770)

    2. Marseille

    • Macron: 64.42% (202,968)
    • Le Pen: 35.58% (112,098)

    3. Lyon

    • Macron: 84.11% (172,006)
    • Le Pen: 15.89% (32,503)

    4. Toulouse

    • Macron: 82.97% (134,326)
    • Le Pen: 17.03% (27,572)

    5. Nice

    • Macron: 60.14% (83,916)
    • Le Pen: 39.86% (55,616)
  19. May and Macron discuss Brexitpublished at 01:59 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Theresa MayImage source, Reuters

    Well, that was quick.

    British PM Theresa May earlier called Emmanuel Macron to congratulate him on his victory.

    The pair "briefly discussed Brexit," a Downing Street spokesperson said.

    Mrs May is said to have "reiterated" that the UK wants to be a strong partner of a "secure and prosperous" EU after Brexit in her conversation with the young president-elect.

  20. More people abstained than voted for Le Penpublished at 01:20 British Summer Time 8 May 2017

    Taking a closer look at the final results that have just been posted, a few things jump out.

    One is that more registered voters actually abstained than voted for Marine Le Pen (12 million vs. 10.6 million).

    Of those who did go to vote, 8.49% (3 million people) cast blank ballots, while 3% (1.06 million) spoiled theirs.