Macron begins second term as France President amid protests

People in France took to the streets after Emmanuel Macron was re-elected as the country’s President for the second term. 

University students in France have been protesting against the lack of suitable choices in the presidential election for a few days now.
University students in France have been protesting against the lack of suitable choices in the presidential election for a few days now. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@kapzminz

The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd of mostly young people in central Paris, videos on social media showed. Meanwhile, in a video from Lyon, protesters can be seen throwing fireworks at a police car.

As per AFP, even as Macron won by a comfortable margin, the abstention rate was expected to settle at the highest since 1969 as a substantial chunk of voters were unwilling to vote for either Macron or Le Pen.

In his victory speech, he said, "Many in this country voted for me not because they support my ideas but to keep out those of the far-right. I want to thank them and know I owe them a debt in the years to come. No one in France will be left by the wayside."

However, the abstention rate was expected to settle at the highest since 1969, with a substantial number of voters unwilling to vote for either Macron or Le Pen.

University students in France have been protesting against the lack of suitable choices in the presidential election for a few days now.

Read more Breaking News and Global News here