When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Geopolitics

Macron-Le Pen, 13 French Newspapers On Unprecedented Election

Breakfast, anyone?
Breakfast, anyone?

PARIS — After France's two main political parties fell short in Sunday's first round voting, next month's second round will feature a showdown of centrist newcomer Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Macron, 39, of the brand new En Marche ! party came in first with 23.7% of the vote, while Le Pen of the National Front party (founded by her father) collected 21.5% of ballots.

This is the first time in France's Fifth Republic that the Socialist Party (PS) and the recently renamed Republican Party (LR) were knocked out in the first round. Ahead of the May 7 runoff to determine the next occupant of the Elysée presidential palace, here's a look at how 13 French newspapers reacted:

le figaro le pen macron french election 2017

Le Figaro — "The Right K.O."



la croix french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

La Croix — "Macron-Le Pen, A New Order"


liberation french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

Libération — "Only One Step Left," a pun on the name of Macron's En Marche ! (Onward!) movement


l

L'Humanité — "Never"


la depeche french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

La Dépêche — "The Duel"


la voix french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

La Voix du Nord — "Unprecedented"


le parisien french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

Le Parisien — "The Macron Sensation"


la republique french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

La République des Pyrénées — "Macron Versus Le Pen"



Charente Libre french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

Charente Libre — "Foward to the Élysée"


La montagne french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

La Montagne — "The Rupture"


la provence marseille french presidential election 2017 macron le pen

La Provence — "Historic"

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Geopolitics

U.S., France, Israel: How Three Model Democracies Are Coming Unglued

France, Israel, United States: these three democracies all face their own distinct problems. But these problems are revealing disturbing cracks in society that pose a real danger to hard-earned progress that won't be easily regained.

Image of a crowd of protestors holding Israeli flags and a woman speaking into a megaphone

Israeli anti-government protesters take to the streets in Tel-Aviv, after Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defence Minister Yoav Galant.

Dominique Moïsi

"I'd rather be a Russian than a Democrat," reads the t-shirt of a Republican Party supporter in the U.S.

"We need to bring the French economy to its knees," announces the leader of the French union Confédération Générale du Travail.

"Let's end the power of the Supreme Court filled with leftist and pro-Palestinian Ashkenazis," say Israeli government cabinet ministers pushing extreme judicial reforms

The United States, France, Israel: three countries, three continents, three situations that have nothing to do with each other. But each country appears to be on the edge of a nervous breakdown of what seemed like solid democracies.

How can we explain these political excesses, irrational proclamations, even suicidal tendencies?

The answer seems simple: in the United States, in France, in Israel — far from an exhaustive list — democracy is facing the challenge of society's ever-greater polarization. We can manage the competition of ideas and opposing interests. But how to respond to rage, even hatred, borne of a sense of injustice and humiliation?

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

The latest