The pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron has won the French presidency with a decisive victory over the far-right Marine Le Pen that his supporters hailed as holding back the tide of populism.

Macron, 39, a former economy minister who ran as a “neither left nor right” independent promising to shake up the French political system, took 65.9% to Le Pen’s 34.1%, according to initial projections from early counts, The Guardian said. 

Macron, who has never held elected office and was unknown until three years ago, is France’s youngest president.

Turnout was projected to have been the lowest in more than 40 years.

Source: MENA