Greece’s mainstream parties welcome Macron victory
Greece’s mainstream parties welcomed the victory of centrist, pro-EU candidate Emmanuel Macron over far-right Marine Le Pen in France’s presidential election late Sunday.
“Emmanuel Macron’s victory is a breath for France and for the whole of Europe,” leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tweeted. “I am sure that we will work together closely for Europe to change its course, re-inspire its people, not to live the far right nightmare ever again.”
The Greek government is counting on Macron’s support in the upcoming talks between the country’s lenders to relieve its mammoth debt.
Conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis also hailed Macron’s election who took 65.1 percent to Le Pen’s 34.9 percent, according to initial projections from early counts.
“Macron’s win shows that the political pendulum in the EU has changed direction,” Mitsotakis tweeted. “The proponents of realism, reason and cooperation are back.”
PASOK leader Fofi Gennimata described the result as a “victory for democracy and a hope for better days,” while the centrist To Potami party praised Macron as a “young, courageous and progressive European who stands beyond the Right-Left divide.” His victory, the party said in a statement, “is a victory for the citizens who defend open democracy and open societies.”
