Winning the election, President Macron still has many worries

The victory of incumbent President Emmanuel Macron in the second round of the French presidential election is considered a “relief” for all those who fear political turmoil both in France and abroad. This is after so many upsetting events in recent years such as Britain’s departure from the European Union (Brexit), the US presidency of Donald Trump and the rise of a new generation of nationalist leaders.

The international press described Macron’s supporters exploding with joy on the night of April 24 (local time) when the results were displayed on a giant screen located at the Champ de Mars park near the Eiffel Tower. Leaders from the European Union (EU), Germany, the UK… quickly congratulated the owner of the Elysee Palace.

After a nearly complete tally, the French Interior Ministry said Mr Macron won 58.6% of the vote, while Marine Le Pen, the candidate of the National Rally Party (RN), received 41.4% – The highest level in the three failed presidential campaigns of this far-right female leader.

French President Emmanuel Macron waves to supporters in Paris on the night of April 24, after being elected for a second term Photo: REUTERS

So President Macron has overcome a difficult road, now it is a … more difficult path, according to Mr. Reuters.

The next challenge will come in a few weeks: Parliamentary elections next June. This will shape the government that President Macron must rely on to continue his sensitive reform plans amid the turmoil in France’s welfare situation.

Pierre Haski, a veteran French political commentator, told radio Al Jazeera about the new “cauldron” in French politics: “The center bloc has President Macron, currently dominant, the right has Ms. Le Pen, the left has Mr. Jean-Luc Melenchon, who ranked third after the first round of voting. (…) Mr. Macron must get a majority in parliament, or else he will get into tension with the prime minister.”

It is not clear who will become the new French prime minister, but far-leftist Melenchon – leader of the “La France Insoumise” movement – half jokingly half serious that President Macron should put him in his place. there.

For her part, Le Pen is confident of a strong opposition bloc in parliament, according to Reuters. Although Le Pen lost, even President Macron’s closest allies insisted he had to learn lessons from the French far-right breaking through the “ceiling” of 40% of the votes in the general election. system.

In his victory speech, Mr. Macron himself acknowledged the decline in living standards for many French and promised to “face the anger and disagreement that has led many French voters to vote for the far right”. Pledged to be “the president of the people”, the 44-year-old president insisted: “No one in France will be left out.”

However, according to Reuterseven if Mr. Macron wins a majority in parliament, he faces potential resistance from the streets to his reform plans, not least his intention to gradually raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 65 – an extremely hot issue in French society.

Equally potentially disruptive is the escalation of energy prices. Currently, Mr. Macron’s government supports people with electricity and gas prices. However, everyone knows this activity will have to stop sooner or later while complaints about rising prices of sunflower oil, rice, bread… are spreading.

In 2018, the increase in gasoline prices triggered the “Yellow Vests”, the worst riot protest in France since 1968. The “Yellow Vests” and uncertainties caused by Brexit, the Covid-19 pandemic- 19 and the Ukraine crisis made Macron’s first term difficult.