Emmanuel Macron wins convincingly – but the concerns of 12 million Le Pen voters cannot be ignored

Second term: President Emmanuel Macron kisses wife Brigitte Macron after being re-elected during his victory rally at the Champs de Mars in Paris. Photo: Benoit Tessier/Reuters

John Downing

DESPITE Emmanuel Macron’s convincing win, Marine Le Pen and the politics of fear and disconnection made real gains for the medium to longer term.

This is not to denigrate Macron’s success in getting a second five years, nor to disrespect the sincerity of his ambition to achieve much during that new term.