French Election Results 2017: An Overview
Background
The 2017 French presidential election was held on April 23 and May 7. This was the first presidential election in France since the election of President Hollande in 2012. The election was the first to be held under the provisions of the Fifth Republic constitution, which was adopted in 1958.
Candidates
A total of 11 candidates competed in the 2017 French presidential election. The major candidates included: incumbent President Francois Hollande, Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, National Front leader Marine Le Pen, Socialist Party candidate Benoit Hamon, Republican candidate Francois Fillon, and Communist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.
Campaign
During the campaign, the major candidates focused on issues such as the economy, immigration, and security. President Hollande attempted to win a second term in office by emphasizing his record of economic growth and job creation. Macron, Le Pen, and Fillon campaigned on more conservative policies, while Melenchon focused on left-wing policies.
Results
The first round of the election resulted in Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen, and Francois Fillon advancing to the second round. Macron won the second round, taking 66.1% of the vote compared to 33.9% for Le Pen. The election saw the highest voter turnout since 1981, with more than 25 million people casting ballots in the second round.
Aftermath
Following the election, Macron took office as the 25th President of France. He immediately set to work on fulfilling his campaign promises, including reducing the influence of the National Front and implementing various economic reforms. Macron was also successful in securing a majority in the National Assembly for his party, En Marche!
Impact
The 2017 French presidential election had a major impact on the future of French politics. Macron's victory marked the first time since the 1980s that a mainstream party has held the presidency, and it is seen as a rejection of the traditional political establishment. The election also showed the continued strength of the far-right National Front, which received a record number of votes in the first round.
Conclusion
The 2017 French presidential election was a watershed moment in the country's political history. The election of Emmanuel Macron marked the first time in decades that a mainstream party has held the presidency, and it demonstrated the continued strength of the far-right National Front. The election also set the stage for Macron to implement his ambitious agenda in the coming years.