Watch: Macron Victory Triggers Protests, Tear Gas on the Streets of France
Emmanuel Macron on Sunday became the first French president in 20 years to win a second term. His victory over Marine Le Pen set off riots and protests across the country. Police are shown in videos charging against protesters and using tear gas to clear areas. There have been reports of two deaths from police shooting into one car.
Macron, who became the country's youngest president when he defeated Le Pen in 2017 with 66 percent of the vote, defeated her again Sunday but with only 58.8 percent of the popular vote this time.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Macron through a tweet. The people protesting in the streets of Paris and Lyon thought otherwise.
Videos surfaced Sunday evening of what appear to be peaceful protests, but only from what's seen in the immediate frames. Here are some of those videos captured.
HAPPENING NOW IN FRANCE! 💥 #Paris #Macron Again, Macron got installed as President. Majority knows he did not win. They pulled a "biden" on France 🤮 pic.twitter.com/LQV0MVsOOp
— Luna.Unfiltered.&.Unbiased (@MagaNoctis) April 24, 2022
A demonstration breaks out in the streets of Lyon, France this evening following the announcement of the election results. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/U7I5CMUvlQ
— SEARCH4TRUTH (@IAMINUNISON) April 24, 2022
France 🇨🇵 is burning. 🔥 People do believe the elections were a fraud. Organised by EU and WEF. Images from Paris. #presidentielles2022
— NewsBlog (@newsblogmedia) April 24, 2022
pic.twitter.com/eql48XpMS1
A #French journalist has just reported on his Twitter that the police opened fire on a car that "refused to be repaired".
— Подразделение Браво (@podrazdelenie) April 24, 2022
Outcome: 2 dead (front passenger and driver). The rear passenger was injured. The area is now cordoned off by the police. #France #Paris pic.twitter.com/3StFPu1dO7
Macron has gained international fame for trying to mediate between Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the war between the Eastern European countries.
Le Pen, on the other hand, has drawn criticism for her previous support of Putin. She tried distancing herself from earlier remarks by condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She was a far-right candidate who promised to remove the NATO integrated military command, and she has been known in the past for backing a plan to ban Muslim females from wearing head scarves in public.

Macron is a centrist who became less popular during his first term. His approval rating dropped during that term and there were several protests of his presidency.
Zelensky was just one of the world leaders who congratulated Macron on his victory. United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson was another.
"Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron on your re-election as President of France. France is one of our closest and most important allies. I look forward to continuing to work together on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world," Johnson tweeted.
European Council President Charles Michel said the EU "can count on" France for five more years.
"In this turbulent period, we need a solid Europe and a France totally committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union. We can count on the #France #5 more years," Michel tweeted.
Grateful that France’s voters rejected hateful ultra-nationalism and re-elected Macron. #AvecVous2022 🇫🇷pic.twitter.com/oJ5P27AefJ
— Christine Pelosi (@sfpelosi) April 24, 2022
Macron addressed his nation after he was declared the victor, stating he was the leader of all France, not just one party.
"I'm not the candidate of one camp anymore, but the president of all of us," Macron said.