It was gratifying to see that Emmanuel Macron won a second term as president of France.
The vote was not particularly close, until one considers who his opponent was. The fact that a far-right anti-immigrant, anti-minority candidate such as Marine Le Pen garnered over 40% of the vote is as terrifying as the sway Donald Trump holds over the American right wing.
Macron's speech included a note of conciliation toward those who have been disaffected during his first term of office - and the realization that his shortcomings are directly related to the attraction of somebody like Le Pen. French people who feel left behind by economic changes, and ignored by politicians who focus more on urban and suburban interests are a powder keg. Another series of 'yellow vest' demonstrations could be enough to tip the balance to dangerous populists, who might spell the devolution of the European Union and NATO into fractious individual countries, vulnerable to manipulation by tyrants like Vladimir Putin.
So I celebrate his victory, but more so, the lessons to which he offers promises. It is critical that he finds a way to make those promises a reality.
