France Re-elects President Macron to Lead 14-Year Stagnant Economy and Narrow Inequality

Barry Adams
24 Apr, 2022
New York City

French President Emmanuel Macron won a second term in office in a deeply divided country struggling with economic troubles, immigration divisions, and high youth unemployment. 

President Macron won 58.6% or 18.8 million votes significantly ahead of his only rival Marine Le Pen garnering only 41.4% or 13.3 million votes, according to the data released by the interior ministry. 

Approximately 28% of total voters stay away from casting ballots, highest rate of abstention since 1969. 

Macaron is the first French president to be reelected since Jacque Chirac in 2002. 

Macron acknowledged the difficulty of uniting the country in his victory speech on a stage erected in front of the  Eiffel Tower and added  "many voted for me not because they support my ideas but to keep out those of the far-right. I want to thank them and know I owe them a debt in the years to come."

France has struggled with economic growth for more than two decades and the annual growth has been less than 2% in most years and crossed 3% only in 2 years since 2000. 

The France's $2.7 trillion GDP is still below the level in last reached in 2007. 

The unemployment rate in France has hovered around 8% and youth unemployment has been near 9% in the first 5-year term on Macron. 

The election was fought as choice between more globalization, pro-European policies, and stability in in government offered by Macron administration against the fight for inflation, subsidies to poor and young voters, and more government programs to support working class. 

Two years of pandemic followed by Ukraine war has brought the economic issue to the forefront in the presidential election. 

French voters are suffering from the rising food and energy prices, lack of jobs, and a surge in cost of living especially among the poor had forced many people to look for an alternative to the current administration. 

Voters have also been upset with the high rate immigration from Africa and Muslim countries and many in working class feel that immigrants are getting the jobs that their children deserve. 

The government's assistance program in helping immigrants and refugees settle in the country has also sparked a deep division in smaller cities and rural areas.  

About 5.7 million or 8% of French population adhere to Muslim faith and their share is expected to grow to about 11% by 2030, according to French media estimates. 

Macron's impressive victory by a large margin may be short-lived and voters are scheduled to elect members of National Assembly on June 12 and Jun 19. 

Le Pen is seeking a national alliance of all opposition parties and offer a united front in the legislative election. 

Macron's mandate may firm up or change after the National Assembly election depending on where the power balance hangs between parties in the legislative body. 

However, leaders in Europe were quick to welcome the French election results and offered strong support to president Macron. 

" We need a solid Europe and a France totally committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union," said European Council President Charles Michel. 

"Wonderful news for all of Europe," said Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.  

The leaders of European Commission, Sweden, Lithuania, Greece, and Spain were quick to acknowledge Macron's victory as victory for Europe. 

President Macron was elected as the youngest French president at the age of 39 in 2017. defeating Marine Le Pen with 66% of votes in the second round.