There was a sigh of relief across the European Union on Sunday night as Emmanuel Macron was elected French president. The Spanish newspapers welcomed the news with banner headlines: ‘Victory for Europe’. I would say victory for the European Union. But it was victory at a cost. Marine Le Pen may have come a distant second but she still reached the second round. She defiantly claimed the mantle of France’s main opposition in calling on "all patriots to join us" in constituting a "new political force".
She campaigned on an anti-European Union platform and was talking of a possible Frexit, which struck a chord with French voters and sent her into the second round. So, the European Union should be keeping the champagne on ice. Le Pen´s far-right party was always going to be unpopular with mainstream voters so there was really never going to be another outcome other than a Macron victory. But the European Union must remember that a party which was openly anti-EU came second. If Le Pen manages to become the official opposition then Macron faces an important challenge.
I have made my views on Brexit very clear in this space, I believe it is a mistake, but at the same time I can't understand why the EU can behave as if everything is fine and there is no need for change. The people of France spoke at the weekend and a sizeable number were talking Frexit. Time to wake up Brussels, I think.