Slovakia welcomes the decision of France to elect Emmanuel Macron as the new President, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Monday.

"We respect the will of the French voters. Their decision is the good news for the future of the European Union (EU)," said Fico.

Slovak Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajcak also said that Macron's win is the victory of the EU.

"French citizens showed their commitment to the common European values. France is also Slovakia's one of the most important partners in the EU and NATO," the minister Twitted.

Opposition Freedom and Solidarity MP Eugen Jurzyca said that the success of Macron in the presidential election is the result of France's failure to address its economic problems in the long term, whereby it has begun falling behind the neighbouring Germany in unemployment and GDP growth.

"The French evidently have a feeling that politicians aren't tackling their problems. This is a breeding ground for populism," added Jurzyca.

Source: xinhua