The emergence of Emmanuel Macron, 39, who was unknown three years ago, as France’s 25th president is significant to Nigeria in many respects, especially in the rebuilding of a fractured and deeply divided nation, the war against corruption and the anti-terror fight. Macron’s victory in penultimate Sunday’s presidential election will also have far-reaching consequences for Brexit and Europe.
Independent centrist Macron recorded 66.06% to 33.94% victory against Front National’s right-wing leader Marine Le Pen in the second round run-off, according to the French interior ministry. Macron’s resounding win has been hailed by his supporters as holding back a tide of populism after the Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s victory in the United States election.
Analysts say although Macron may have seen off the competition in the race for the Elysee Palace but he will face daunting challenges as he took charge from yesterday. The youngest president in the history of France, he must unite a deeply-divided country, roll back unemployment and try to nudge a fractious EU along the path of reform. But he first faces a battle to secure a governing majority in legislative elections due on June 18.
However, in his victory speech, Mr. Macron vowed to “fight with all my strength against the division that erodes us. That is how we will become a French people again”.
He immediately reached across the divide to Le Pen voters, saying he heard the “anger, anxiety and doubts” that many had expressed. But he did not shy away from his internationalist, pro-EU agenda, saying: “I will defend Europe; it is our civilisation which is at stake…I will work to rebuild ties between Europe and its citizens.”
He noted that France was facing an “immense task” to rebuild European unity, fix the economy and ensure security against extremist threats.
“Europe and the world are waiting for us to defend the spirit of enlightenment, threatened in so many places,” he said.
Already, Nigeria’s Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has joined other world leaders such as US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council of EU leaders, Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of NATO, among others, in congratulating France’s president-elect Macron, who replaces outgoing Francois Hollande of the Socialist Party.
Osinbajo expressed the optimism that the incoming government would further strengthen the bond of friendship between both countries. He said that under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, there has been a very close collaboration between Nigeria and France in the war against terror and commended the role played by France in the successes so far recorded in the implementation of the regional initiative against terrorism.
President Trump applauded Macron, and said he looked forward to working with him. Theresa May also commended Macron, whose election came as her country prepares to leave the European Union. Justin Trudeau said he wanted to meet with Macron soon. Tusk congratulated the new helmsman and the French people who chose “liberty, equality and fraternity” and said “no to the tyranny of ‘fake news.’”
Jens Stoltenberg, secretary-general of NATO, said he looked forward to welcoming the new French president to a meeting later this month. Malta’s President Joseph Muscat was pleased with the outcome of the French polls. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pledged to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Blueprint observes that Nigeria has a lot to learn from the 2017 France’s presidential election as the two nations seem to share some peculiarities. The youth, represented by Macron, a political neophyte neither known to the establishment nor belonging to any ideological or classical dynasty, has for the first time been afforded the opportunity to lead France. This is a challenge for Nigeria to discard the god-fatherism syndrome and allow her youth to have a competitive edge in elective offices, which have for too long been dominated by octogenarians with retrogressive effect on nation-building.
It is instructive that France’s election was influenced more by the desire to entrench transparency and weed out corruption than maintaining the ‘old order’.
This is evident as voting was swayed by the François Fillon’s fake jobs scandal, popularly referred to as the ‘Penelopegate’ to favour Macron, who has gained people’s trust and embody the promised renewal. Although Nigerians voted for “Change”, it is obvious that some corrupt politicians have infiltrated the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate President Muhammadu Buhari’s war against corruption. We condemn this unholy presence and call for a change of heart among our political class to enable Nigeria move forward.
We congratulate Macron and wish him a successful tenure as he steers the ship of France in the next five years. Viva Macron!
