'A new page in our long history has turned': Macron wins French presidential election
President Elect Emmanuel Macron says a new era in French history was beginning, as the 39-year old pro-EU centrist becomes the country's youngest head of state since Napoleon.
"A new page in our long history has turned tonight," Macron said in a statement to Reuters.
"I want it to be that of rediscovery of hope and trust."
French far-right candidate Marine Le Pen received 35 per cent of the votes cast for a candidate, according to polling agency projections, compared with 65 per cent for Macron.
Centrist Emmanuel Macron has won the French presidential election. Photo: AP
Le Pen says she has called Macron to congratulate him on his victory and says the vote confirms her National Front party and its allies as the leader of France's opposition.
Minutes after the first results were released on Sunday, Le Pen said she would call for a new political force as legislative elections loom in June.
She hinted that her party may rename itself from the National Front, which has been dogged by allegations of racism and anti-Semitism since it was founded by her father.
Le Pen says shehas called Macron to congratulate him on his victory. Photo: AP
Outgoing French President Francois Hollande on Sunday said that centrist Emmanuel Macron's victory in France's presidential election showed most voters wanted to unite around "the values of the Republic".
Hollande said in a statement he had called Macron to congratulate his former economy minister after he defeated anti-EU, anti-immigrant candidate Marine Le Pen.
"His big victory confirms that a very large majority of our fellow citizens wanted to unite around the values of the Republic and show their attachment to the European Union," the statement said.
Hollande's former prime minister Manuel Valls called separately for a broad presidential majority to be built around Macron in legislative elections next month.
