Revealed: France’s president-elect Emmanuel Macron ties with Britain's political elites
The former Rothschild banker and economy minister under François Hollande stormed to victory in a landslide victory over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in Sunday’s election.
But the image of the 39-year-old leader of the En Marche! party as “anti-establishment” may only be skin deep.
Former Chancellor George Osborne reportedly formed a bond with the president-elect at G7 meetings while Mr Macron was still part of France’s socialist government.
Mr Osborne tweeted a gushing congratulations following the first-round victory of his “friend” Mr Macron.
And Blairite Labour MP Chuka Ummuna revealed earlier this week he had held close conversations with the president-elect about setting up a new party ahead of the French election.
Referring to Mr Macron’s En Marche! party, which was founded just a year ago, Mr Ummuna said: “Emmanuel spoke to me some time ago, before he set up En Marche, and kind of floated the idea by me.”
New Labour bigwig Peter Mandelson reportedly got to know Mr Macron during the peer’s tenure as an EU commissioner, and has likened the Frenchman to former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Lord Mandelson said Mr Macron can appeal to French voters on both the left and right of the political spectrum, adding: “It gives me great hope for France, and it gives me great hope for Europe.”
Mr Macron even met former US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton at a New York dinner also attended by Mr Ummuna, according to WikiLeaks.
Europhile Macron also has his fans in Brussels.
European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker gave his unabashed support for Mr Macron during the presidential campaign and tweeted his support following his victory.
And German foreign minister Sigmar Gabriel also said Mr Macron’s victory has “kept France at the heart of Europe”.
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