Emmanuel Macron speaks of 'common fate' of France and Europe in election victory speech

New President pledges to ‘fight against inequalities, ensure security and the unity of the nation’

Thousands of people brandishing French and European flags danced through the night in the grounds of the former royal palace of the Louvre in Paris to celebrate Emmanuel Macron’s victory.

The centrist candidate crushed his far-right rival Marine Le Pen, winning 65 to to her 35 per cent of the vote in France’s most important election in decades.

Facing the iconic glass pyramid in the courtyard of the world-famous museum, the 39-year-old told his euphoric supporters: “You are dozens of thousands but I can only see a few faces. Tonight France has won.

“Everyone told us that it would be impossible but they did not know France.

“You have chosen audacity and this is what French people and the world are waiting from us. They want France to surprise them and they want France to be itself and this is exactly what we are going to do."

In a “spirit of conquest”, Mr Macron said he would “fight against inequalities, ensure security and the unity of the nation” and that he would defend France and Europe and “the common fate that countries of our continent have given themselves”.

“Through work, education and culture, I will give hope to our country,” he said.

From the stage, Mr Macron looked out onto the historic Champs Elysee, the Arc de Triomphe and the modern Arche de la Defense, the emblem of the capital’s business centre.

Addressing the crowd, Mr Macron said: “You are representing the enthusiasm and energy of the French people. This place, where we are standing is saying that. This place is the link with all the French people and with the rest of the world.

“We have the force, the energy and the determination and we will not give in to fear.”

The sound of victory resonated through the night as a host of DJs and musicians started a giant open air party.

Having launched his own movement En Marche! just over a year ago, Mr Macron has risen from a political outsider to the steps of the Elysee Palace to become the country’s youngest president.

Styling himself as outside the traditional divide of right and left-wing politics, Mr Macron turned the country’s political landscape upside down.

​Celien Palcy, 23, told the Independent: “This is very good news for our country. The two-party system is finished and now we will have to consider new political movements and maybe this will enable us to have a bit more balanced political system.

"I think France’s fifth republic is entering a new era, which will be more democratic.”

Kissing under the blue, white and red colours of the French flag, Jeremy and Manu, 21 and 20-years-old, were delighted with the result.

“Mr Macron is positive and has given a new wave of energy to people. This is someone who was the capacity to gather [supporters] around him and we are very happy of the result,” said Manu.

Lucy Lachand, 20, wanted to be part of this historic election night, which sparked the interest of the media worldwide.

“I believe this was an important moment to live and I’m so delighted to be here,” she said.

Devoted Europhiles, Mr Macron’s supporters danced the night away on the grounds of the Louvres, keen to send a message that France will remain open to the world.

Guy Kombila, 29, said: “For young people this is a kind of politics that resembles us – beyond left and right divides. We are young people, who travel everywhere around the world, we are open to the world and we are not the closed France of Marine Le Pen.

“Now, he [Mr Macron] needs to take the responsibility for the huge amount of work that awaits him – for the candidate of En Marche (Let’s Go) now it’s time to get to work.”

Luc Pasqualini, 18, said he was convinced by Mr Macron’s European policy and believed the newly elected president would strengthen France’s voice in the EU.

He said: “His European policy is for me the most important part of his programme. We need to build an EU – maybe not like a federal union – but rather where everyone feels like a European citizens.

“Finally France’s voice will be heard within the EU alongside Germany’s.”

Despite a commanding 30-point lead over Ms Le Pen, Mr Macron’s victory is tainted with a record level of abstention, with a quarter of French voters not voting and about four million spoiling their ballot.

Mr Pasqualini said that the growing scores for Ms Le Pen in recent years remained a worrying trend.

“This is a victory but 34 per cent of votes for the Front National is too much. This proves that Mr Macron was not able to gather enough support around him.”

Among the crowd, a group of refugees waved Syrian and French flags to show their support for Mr Macron, despite not being able to vote for him.

Al Saleh, from Homs, fled the regime of Bashar al-Assad and arrived in France three years ago with his wife and his four children.

He told the Independent: “This is a really important moment for us because France has welcomed us and we love this country. I was not able to vote but I would have voted for Mr Macron because he is against censorship and he will continue to welcome refugees from countries, where people are being massacred.”

Stephanie Terre-Mougin came to the Louvre with her two children and her sister. The 46-year-old said it was a positive thing to see so many young people involved in a political movement.

“This is clear cut victory although we would have liked it even clearer. But is also shows that nearly 40 per cent of people voted for Ms Le Pen, which is worrying,” she said.

“It is now crucial that Mr Macron manages to get a parliamentary majority so that he can pass though reforms, otherwise, once again it could be a real disappointment for everybody. He needs to do a great mandate in order to be sure he beats the Front National again in 2022.

“What I really liked about Mr Macron was his positive vision for the future and his European vision – France has a voice only if it can be in Europe.”

Making clear just how important the EU is to him, Mr Macron walked to the stage in the Louvre courtyard to the sound of Beethoven's Ode to Joy, the European Union's anthem.

In his speech, Mr Macron recognised “the anger and disarray” of the voters who backed Ms Le Pen and he pledged to fight against the mounting extremism in French politics.

“I will do everything I can in the next five years to make sure that they no longer have a reason to vote for the extremes,” Mr Macron said.

Mr Macron will no doubt enjoy his election victory but even he described the task ahead as “immense”.