![\"Macron\"](\"http:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/Macron.jpg\")
Ripping up France\u2019s political map, French voters elected independent centrist Emmanuel Macron as the country\u2019s youngest president Sunday, delivering a resounding victory to the unabashedly pro-European former investment banker and strengthening France\u2019s place as a central pillar of the European Union.\nMacron, who had never run for office before, celebrated with thousands of jubilant, flag-waving supporters outside the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday night. The European anthem \u201cOde to Joy\u201d played as he strode out to address the swelling crowd.
\n\u201cFrance has won!\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone said it was impossible. But they do not know France!\u201c
\nMarine Le Pen, his far-right opponent in the runoff, quickly called the 39-year-old Macron to concede after voters rejected her \u201cFrench-first\u201d nationalism by a large margin. Le Pen\u2019s performance dashed her hopes that the populist wave which swept Donald Trump into the White House and led Britain to vote to leave the EU would also carry her to France\u2019s presidential Elysee Palace.
\nMacron told the Louvre crowd that the Le Pen vote was one of \u201canger, disarray.\u201d
\n\u201cI will do everything in the five years to come so there is no more reason to vote for the extremes,\u201d he said.
\nEarlier, in a solemn televised victory speech, Macron vowed to heal the social divisions exposed by France\u2019s acrimonious election campaign.
\n\u201cI know the divisions in our nation that led some to extreme votes. I respect them,\u201d he declared, unsmiling. \u201cI know the anger, the anxiety, the doubts that a large number of you also expressed. It is my responsibility to hear them.\u201d<\/p>\n