Arab leaders congratulate Macron on French Election Victory

Arab leaders congratulated French President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election on Sunday for a second term after beating far-right challenger Marine Le Pen.

Macron won re-election on Sunday, convincingly defeating his rival and prompting a wave of relief in Europe that the far-right had been kept out of power – despite Le Pen winning 42 percent of the vote.

He is the first French president to win a second term for two decades.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said he hoped Macron would “complete his career and lead his country to further progress and prosperity” in a congratulatory message via Twitter.

“I stress that the Egyptian-French relations were and still are close and growing… and we look forward to continuing consultations and mutual coordination on a number of regional and international issues of common interest.”

Macron has formed a strong relationship with Sisi despite dismay from human rights groups over Egypt’s jailing of thousands of political prisoners.

Another firm regional ally, the UAE, also praised Macron’s win with the Gulf state’s leader, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, wishing the French president continued “success and prosperity”.

He stressed the UAE’s “keenness to develop bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields for the good and interest of the two friendly peoples”. Cables were also sent by the rulers of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The UAE has been accused by French media of financing Le Pen’s far-right party.

Saudi monarch King Salman praised “the distinguished relations between the two friendly countries and peoples, which everyone seeks to strengthen and develop in all fields”.

Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani stressed the “strong and strategic relations” between Paris and Doha saying he hoped they would “achieve the common goals of our two countries in development and international peace”.

Iraqi President Barham Salih congratulated Macron “the president of France, an important partner for Iraq”, wishing him “success and the French people progress and prosperity”.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi also congratulated Macron.

The president of Iraq’s northern autonomous Kurdish region, Nechirvan Barzani, congratulated Macron on Twitter: “I look forward to continuing to work together to further consolidate our relations and coordinate our efforts to enhance regional security and stability.”

The leaders of Bahrain, Oman, Palestine and Mauritania also congratulated Macron on his win.