The European Jewish Congress (EJC) congratulates Emmanuel Macron on his election as President of France. Macron beat Marine Le Pen of the far-Right National Front, taking around 65 percent of the vote according to exit polls in the second round run off.

“We congratulate Emmanuel Macron and the French people on a victory against hate and extremism,” Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the EJC, said. “This was a vote for France, for the European Union and for democratic values.”

“Never has a major European country faced such a challenge to its most basic value system of tolerance and democracy since all of Western Europe was dominated by fascism in the Second World War. We applaud the French people for facing this challenge with the full force of French democracy and the core values of the Republic.”

Macron toped the poll in the first round of voting two weeks ago, with La Pen in second place. Candidates from the two major political parties in France failed to qualify for the second round.

“This election teaches us that we must remain vigilant in the defense of democracies from the extremists who seek to exploit the fears and insecurities of the people. It is no coincidence that the same candidate who called upon the French electorate to forget the horrors of the past, sought to provide the roots for their repetition in the present. We thank the French people for rejecting this message.” Kantor continued.

“We remain extremely concerned by the still large support for parties of the far right, not only in France but across Europe.”

“We look forward to working with President-elect Macron on all issues of shared interest to France and the Jewish community.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)