The world has welcomed the results of the French presidential elections won by Emmanuel Macron. There is a sense of relief over the victory of moderation over extremism, at time when the world is already reeling under political and economic crises. These global problems would only have been aggravated had the far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen, been the people's choice. Le Pen had fought on a platform of hate. Throughout her campaign, she had adapted a hostile posture towards immigrants and religious minorities. She was also a strong advocate of France exiting the European Union. Contrary to this stand, Macron embraced a balanced policy and maintained this position throughout his electoral campaign. He believes in a strong France, with full respect to the authority of the President as well as that of the Prime Minister. He is expected to toe the line of his predecessor, Francois Holland, in matters related to the economy, Europe relations, and counterterrorism. The elections are of special significance to Arabs and Muslims as the new president-elect bears no animosity towards Islam and its followers. He believes in the democracy on which France was founded, based on tolerance towards all religions. He sees Islam as a heavenly, peaceful religion. These are strong signs of a brighter future in the relationship between France and the Arab-Muslim world. Macron is now faced with a plate-full of key issues on the international and domestic fronts. He enjoys the goodwill of the international community, which will be to his advantage as he seeks to bring France back as an influential player in global decision-making. The country could assume a bigger role in engaging with the crisis-ridden Middle East where its presence is now rather diminished.
