News Analysis: Electing Macron, France chooses not to yield to fear, but remains fractured

Choosing Emmanuel Macron as new president, French voters made the distinct choice to not yield to fear, although the country remains deeply divided, according to Italian analysts.

"The message delivered by French voters in the runoff is very clear," Antonio Villafranca, research coordinator and head of the European Program with Italy's Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), told Xinhua.

"They did not yield to fear, nor to the temptation to shut themselves away, despite the fact that things are far from being perfect in their country as well as in the European Union (EU)."

Things must change, and reforms in a wide range of domains were needed at both domestic and European level, but without leaving the EU integration path -- That was the strongest message delivered by Macron, according to Villafranca.

Looking at the results, such message proved successful. Macron, 39, largely defeated far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday's second round of vote, thus becoming the first president of the French Fifth Republic to be elected from outside mainstream parties.

Furthermore, his political platform would also go beyond the traditional "left-right" political divide so typical in European countries.

Despite his clear victory, and the wide voting gap between him and his far-right contender, however, Macron must now lead a country that would remain deeply fractured, according to another analyst.

"A large majority of voters stated its support for Macron, undoubtedly: yet, the turnout was low, and many voters cast blank ballots (null votes) in protest," Andrea Goldstein, managing director of Bologna-based think-tank Nomisma, told Xinhua.

These two factors showed a deep disillusionment among many French, and particularly on the far-left side of the political spectrum.

"A segment of the French society is not scared by globalization, and it would look at the future with enthusiasm: this social movement speaks through a figure like Macron," Goldstein explained.

"Yet, there is another part of France, and of Europe, that does not identify with Macron nor with his political agenda, and that part was not persuaded to vote again after the first round."

Both analysts suggested another crucial political appointment would now await France: the parliamentary elections, to be held in two rounds as well, scheduled in June.

"The game is far from being over yet," Villafranca stressed. "A new challenge begins now, and it is perhaps riskier than the presidential race, because the parliamentary elections may result in something more complicated than cohabitation."

In the French semi-presidential system, the "cohabitation" defines a situation in which the majority in parliament belongs to a different political party, or parties, than the president of the Republic.

In the first round of the presidential race, several candidates from different political forces gathered similar electoral support: if these results were mirrored in the parliamentary election, a coalition government may be necessary, according to the scholar.

"This would be a new development in France's Fifth Republic," Villafranca said.

As such, the strength of Macron as president, and his ability to deliver his agenda, would depend also on the level of conflict with the new parliament.

"The issue now is whether Macron will be given a full mandate, with the backing of a strong parliamentary basis, or not," Goldstein agreed.

According to the Nomisma's chief analyst, three different scenarios could be delivered. "The first option is that Macron's party En Marche (On The Move) wins a majority of seats in parliament, and is able to govern alone: it is possible, but I do not consider it very likely," he said.

A second option would be the opposite: a victory of center-right forces in parliament, and the cohabitation with "rival" president Macron. "This seems to me the least likely solution," Goldstein said.

Then, there was a third scenario, which the analyst considered the most probable. "Macron's party wins, but gets no majority in parliament. In this case, he would have to make arrangements with other parties in order to form a coalition government."

Despite all uncertainties still lying ahead, however, Goldstein warned not to underestimate the result achieved by the independent candidate.

"Macron's victory has an historic impact that we should not understate," he said. "He bet everything on a pro-European stance, which was very honest and clear, and he won." Enditem