Fico Calls Macron's Victory Good News for EU; Lajcak "Delighted"
Bratislava, May 8 (TASR) – Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak on Monday welcomed the election of centrist Emmanuel Marcon for president in France in a contest against the right-wing National Front’s Marine Le Pen on Sunday.
“The French people have elected their president in a free election and this decision needs to be respected. I believe that this choice represents a piece of good news for the European Union’s future and it will allow the member states to look for ways to get closer to each other, instead of moving apart,” reads Fico’s statement provided to TASR by his spokesperson.
Fico, who also sent a telegram of congratulations to Macron, stressed that Europe will need stability and constructive cooperation following Brexit, with France’s role in this situation being irreplaceable.
Meanwhile, Lajcak on Twitter wrote that he received the news of Marcon’s election with delight.
“Delighted to learn of @EmmanuelMacron victory in French presidential elections. Yet another proof that if faced w/ EU-non EU dilemma, EU wins,” wrote Lajcak.
“We view this election as a recognition of the lasting attractiveness of values and principles that have been buttressing existing European cooperation, and at the same time also as a display of the will to continue in building the common [European] project,” wrote the Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Ministry in an official statement, stressing that Slovakia considers France to be one of its most important foreign partners and allies within the EU and NATO.
