'Punish Britain? Certainly not… but Monsieur Macron will be tough': France's president-elect will insist on hard Brexit negotiations but won't look to sever UK from the EU

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French president-elect Emmanuel Macron will insist on tough Brexit negotiations - but won't look to sever the UK from the EU, his economic adviser said this morning.

Macron, 39, last night vowed to 'defend Europe' minutes after becoming France's youngest leader since Napoleon having beaten far-right National Front candidate Marine Le Pen, 48.

He has previously stated he will not give Britain an easy Brexit deal and even branded the UK's departure from the EU 'a crime'. 

But this morning, the former banker's chief economic adviser Jean Pisani-Ferry denied Macron will look to punish Britain for its vote to leave the European Union.

'Punish? Certainly not. But he believes that today that Europe is part of the solution to the problems we're facing,' Pisani-Ferry said. But he warned: 'At the same time, we have divergent interests on some aspects of the negotiations. So there will be a tough negotiation and he will be tough.' 

With the final ballots counted today, Macron had won 66.1 per cent of the vote in the first ever election he has contested, far ahead of Le Pen at 33.9 per cent. Turnout was 74.62 per cent, but in a sign of widespread disillusionment, one in three voters abstained or cast a blank ballot.

Macron this morning spoke with outgoing president Francois Hollande during a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary this morning of the victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War. 

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Outgoing French president Francois Hollande (right) and French president-elect Emmanuel Macron (left) talk during a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary this morning of the victory over Nazi Germany during the Second World War

Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte (pictured) addressed his adoring supporters outside the Louvre in central Paris last night just hours after he was elected the youngest French president 

The president-elect celebrated with his wife Brigitte (third from right) and her granddaughter (pictured receiving a kiss from Macron) on stage after he convincingly defeated far-right Marine Le Pen in the tense election

Emmanuel Macron celebrated on stage with wife Brigitte Trogneux and her granddaughter at the Louvre in Paris last night

Macron, 39, raised his hands as thousands of his supporters waved French flags and listened to him say that he will 'defend the spirit of the enlightenment everywhere' 

Emmanuel Macron, 39, and his wife Brigitte, 64, waved to their supporters after he gave a speech in Paris on Sunday evening

A couple were photographed kissing in Pairs after it was announced that Emmanuel Macron would become the new president of France 

There were jubilant scenes in Paris last night as it emerged that Emmanuel Macron had won a resounding victory over Le Pen

French president-elect Emmanuel Macron (left) celebrates with his wife Brigitte Trogneux (third from right), her granddaughter (four from right), Brigitte's daughter Tiphaine Auziere (scecond from right) and Tiphaine's husband Antoine Choteau (right) on stage at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris last night

Macron, speaking at the Carrousel du Louvre last night, said that France had 'chosen audacity' and promised to serve his country with 'humility and strength'

Emmanuel Macron (centre) was joined by his wife Brigitte (third from right), her granddaughter (fourth from right), her daughter Tiphaine Auziere (second from right) and Tiphaine's husband Antoine Choteau (right)

Just 15 minutes after the exit polls were announced last night, Le Pen conceded and revealed she phoned Macron to 'congratulate' him on his election victory.

Later in the evening, Macron addressed thousands of his adoring supporters who had gathered at his election victory rally outside the Louvre in central Paris.

He walked across the sprawling historic courtyard to the music of Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy', the European Union anthem, and said: 'Europe and the world are waiting for us to defend the spirit of the enlightenment everywhere.' 

Addressing the jubilant crowd with a beaming smile, he said: 'Thank you my friends. Thank you for being here tonight. You have fought with courage. 

'What we have done for so many months, everyone thought it was impossible, but they didn't know France. I thank you for your trust. Thank you for the risk some have taken.'

Macron also addressed those who had voted for Le Pen, telling the crowd: 'They have expressed today anger.

'I respect them and I will do everything in the five years that come for there to be no reason to vote for extremists. Today there are just the French. France reunited.'

He repeatedly said the task before him was 'immense' adding that Europe and the world were looking to France. He added that he would work to 'reform our Europe'.

Macron said that France had 'chosen audacity' and promised to serve his country with 'humility and strength'.

French President-elect Emmanuel Macron appeared by the side of the man he is succeeding as the country commemorates the end of World War II. It was Macron's first public appearance with President Francois Hollande since Macron resigned as economy minister in August to run for office

Hollande and Macron spoke as they attended the ceremony under the Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris this morning

Emmanuel Macron (pictured) addressed a jubilant crowd in Paris on Sunday evening and said: 'Thank you my friends. Thank you for being here. You have fought with courage

Macron supporters had gathered at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris to celebrate the result which showed the 39-year-old had won more than 66 per cent of the vote

The married couple were mobbed by fans as they went to vote at the polling station in Le Touquet yesterday. He won the election with more than 66 per cent of the vote

Macron, a former banker, waved to supporters as he left his home in Le Touquet, northern France, flanked by bodyguards to go and vote yesterday

Supporters of French independent centrist presidential candidate, Emmanuel Macron, reacted outside his campaign headquarters in Paris on Sunday

Macron spoke one hour after the polls indicated he had won the election and had become France's youngest ever president and said a 'new page of our history' has turned

A woman reacted with jubilation as the polls indicated that Macron had won 66 per cent of the vote in the tense election

The 39-year-old (pictured) has become the country's youngest president of all time after winning more than 66 per cent of the vote

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen (pictured) reaveled last night that she has phoned Emmanuel Macron to congratulate him

Mr Macron achieved a resounding 66 percent election landslide that ended any hopes of power for the nationalist firebrand Marine Le Pen, 48, and her National Front (FN) party 

He added last night: 'This evening it is Europe and it is the world that are watching us. Europe and the world are waiting for us to defend the spirit of the enlightenment everywhere, threatened in so many places.

'They expect us to defend liberties everywhere, that we protect the oppressed. They are waiting for us to have a new hope, a new humanism, a more secure world, a world of freedom, a world of more growth, more justice, more ecology. They await us finally.

'The task before us is immense and will begin tomorrow (Monday). It will require making public life more responsible, defending our democratic values, strengthening our economy, building the new protections of this world around us, giving a place to everyone, rebuilding our Europe and ensuring the safety of all the French.' 

He ended his speech with the immortal French words: 'Long live the Republic, long live France'. 

This morning, the French President-elect is preparing the groundwork for his transition to power, with plans for a visit to Germany, a name change for his political movement and an appearance on Monday with the man whose job he assumes.

Mr Macron must pull together a majority for his year-old political movement by mid-June legislative elections. His party, En Marche! (Forward!) is tweaking its name as it prepares a list of candidates.

Mr Macron has promised that half of those candidates will be new to elected politics, as he was before Sunday.

The far-right National Front party is also gearing up for a name change, if not a makeover of its ideas, after Marine Le Pen's decisive loss.

In interviews on Monday her campaign director David Rachline said the party founded by her father would get a new name as bait to pull in a broader spectrum of supporters in France. 

During the campaign, Le Pen had hoped that the surprise election of Donald Trump in America, and the Brexit result in the UK, would favour her hardline opposition to the EU, globalisation and immigration.

But instead it was Macron who celebrated in front of crowds of supporters outside the Louvre in central Paris. 

Brigitte Macron (pictured) was her husband's former schoolteacher and blew a kiss to supporters during the tense vote on Sunday 

Macron supporters looked relieved as they celebrated the announcement at around 7pm by hugging each other in central Paris

Young men and women jumped and danced together after learning that Macron is to become the new French president 

A couple kissed each other and waved French flags in front of the Pyramid at the Louvre Museum in Paris following the announcement at around 8pm local time 

On Sunday morning, National Front candidate casts her ballot in Henin-Beaumont after Femen protesters were cleared from outside the polling station

Macron (pictured on Sunday) will become France's youngest president after he received two thirds of the vote in the tense election

Supporters of newly-elected president Macron waved French flags after the announcement confirmed he won the election on Sunday 

This was thr scene as an activist from the feminist group Femen staged a demonstration at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont. The activists were detained after the protest, the latest in many demonstrations against Le Pen

This morning, focus has already shifted on whether he can govern the country without the support of a traditional party.

Macron faces a formidable challenge to enact his policy programme while trying to unite a fractured and demoralised country.

He has proposed an ambitious domestic reform agenda including cutting state spending, easing labour laws, boosting education in deprived areas and extending new protections to the self-employed.

But he is inexperienced, has no political party and must fashion a working parliamentary majority after legislative elections next month.

There is scepticism about Macron's ability to win a majority with candidates from his En Marche movement - 'neither of the left, nor right' - alone, meaning he might have to form a coalition.

'In order for us to act, we will need a majority in the National Assembly,' En Marche secretary general Richard Ferrand told TF1 television, adding that only 'half of the journey' had been completed.

And his economic agenda, particularly plans to relax labour regulations to fight stubbornly high unemployment, is likely to face fierce resistance from leftist opponents.

He also inherits a country still in a state of emergency following a string of Islamist-inspired attacks since 2015 that have killed more than 230 people.

'I WISH HIM SUCCESS IN THE FACE OF THE IMMENSE CHALLENGES FACING FRANCE', SAYS LE PEN  

Speaking after the exit polls showed Macron had won the election, Le Pen (pictured) said she had phoned to congratulate him on his victory 

Marine Le Pen delivered her concession speech less than 15 minutes after official exit polls confirmed her devastating defeat.

Speaking to an audience of party officials and close aides she said she would create a new force in French politics pitting 'patriots against globalists'.

She said: 'The French have chosen a new president of the republic and voted to continuity. I congratulate him on his election because I have the best interests of the country at heart, I wish him success.

'I wish him success in the face of the immense challenges facing France.

'I would like thank the 11 million French people who gave me their voice and their confidence.

'I want to thank the activists who have supported and accompanied me throughout this campaign.

'I would like to thank [rival election candidate turned support Nicolas] Dupont-Aignan and his party Debout La France for their courageous choice.

'The French people have chosen a patriotic and republican alliance as the first force of opposition.

'The political groups who have taken the responsibility to elect Mr Macron have been discredited. The first round showed a breakdown in French politics with the elimination of the old parties.

'The second round created a realignment of politics split between patriots and globalists. This choice between patriots and globalists will be presented to the French people in the parliamentary elections.

'I will be at the head of this fight to gather together all of those who choose France first.

'The Front National must renew itself to live up to this historic opportunity and expectations of the French people.

'I plan to begin the transformation of our movement to create a new political force.

'I am calling all patriots to join and participate in the decisive political battle that begins tonight.

'More than ever in the coming months France will need you.

'Long live the Republic, Long live France.' 

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Macron has erased Louis Napoleon Bonaparte's record as the youngest ever president and said he would fight with all his might against all inequality in French society.

In his election victory speech, he said: 'This is a new democratic landscape. Today you've agreed to put your trust in me and it's a great honour and responsibility, as nothing was written in stone.

'I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. I want to speak to all citizens now. No matter who you voted for, I do not hold anything against you.

'We need to deal with the economy and the moral weakness of the country. I want to address my opponent, Marine Le Pen.

'I know the divisions of our nations have pushed people to extremes and I know the anger and the doubt in our country. It's my duty to listen to this.

'It's about organising solidarity, fighting all forms of inequality and discrimination, ensuring unity and guaranteeing the security of the nation.'  

His supporters had already flocked on to esplanade in front of the most popular museum in the world when the results were announced, waving red-white-and-blue French flags and chanting 'Macron, President!'

British Prime Minister Theresa May 'warmly congratulated' Macron on his victory in the French presidential race and said 'we look forward to working with the new president on a wide range of shared priorities.

Mrs May's message comes after Macron described Britain's exit from the EU as 'a crime', and revealed he favours a so called 'Hard Brexit' which will see the UK excluded from Europe's single market. 

The area outside the Carrousel du Louvre was a sea of blue, white and red as Macron supporters celebrated his victory over Le Pen 

The result was met with huge cheers from the Macron camp as exit polls showed he had won the election by a landslide 

Macron supporters drank champagne to celebrate his victory in the crucial election which sees him become France's youngest president 

Despite this he and his wife, Brigitte, 64, have admitted that they have strong personal links with Britain, and often holiday in cities such as London and Bristol.

Mrs Macron - her husband's former schoolteacher in the northern French town of Amiens - said at the weekend: 'We both absolutely love Britain, and make sure we visit every year - this won't change.'

Mrs Macron, who has three grown-up children from a first marriage, will now become first lady of France when the couple move into the Elysee Palace following an inauguration ceremony later this month.

US President Donald Trump also congratulated Macron and tweeted: 'Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France. I look very much forward to working with him!' 

Participation in the election by 7pm was 74 per cent, a relatively low turnout compared to previous elections.  

The Macrons voted in the town hall in Le Touquet, on the English Channel coast, where they share a beachside home with their Argentine Mastiff dog, Figaro.

WHAT WORLD LEADERS SAY ABOUT MACRON'S WIN 

Pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron stormed to victory in the French presidential election on Sunday, roundly defeating his far-right rival Marine Le Pen in a run-off vote.

Here is a selection of comments from world leaders and other political heavyweights on Macron's election victory.

Britain

'The Prime Minister warmly congratulates President-elect Macron on his election success. France is one of our closest allies and we look forward to working with the new President on a wide range of shared priorities,' said a Downing Street spokesman.

Prime Minister Theresa May also discussed Brexit with Macron, saying 'the UK wants a strong partnership with a secure and prosperous EU once we leave,' the spokesman added.

United States

'Congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his big win today as the next President of France. I look very much forward to working with him!' President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter.

US President Donald Trump congratulated Macron after his 'big win' on Sunday and added that he is 'looking forward' to working with him 

Germany

'Congratulations, @EmmanuelMacron. Your victory is a victory for a strong and united Europe and for French-German friendship,' said Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman. 

European Union

'Happy that the French chose a European future,' European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker wrote on Twitter.

EU Council President Donald Tusk also offered his congratulations, saying the French had chosen 'liberty, equality and fraternity' and 'said no to the tyranny of fake news'.

European Parliament President Antonio Tajani told AFP: 'We have received a vote of confidence from France in the European Union.'

China

President Xi Jinping congratulated Macron, saying their countries share a 'responsibility toward peace and development in the world.'

'China stands ready to work with France to move the strategic Sino-French partnership to a higher level,' Xi said in a congratulatory note, according to the Chinese foreign ministry.

Russia

President Vladimir Putin on Monday urged  Macron to bridge deep rifts and work together in the face of the 'growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism'.

'The citizens of France entrusted you to lead the country in a difficult period for Europe and for the entire world community. The growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism is accompanied by an escalation of local conflicts and the destabilisation of entire regions," Putin said in a congratulatory telegram released by the Kremlin.

'In these conditions it is especially important to overcome mutual distrust and join forces to ensure international stability and security,' it said.

The Kremlin statement said Putin 'confirmed his readiness for constructive joint work on current bilateral, regional and global issues, expressing certainty that this would be in the fundamental interests of the Russian and French people.'

'Putin also wished Macron strong health, prosperity and success in such a responsible position at the head of state,' it said.

The Kremlin was widely seen as backing Macron's far-right opponent Marine Le Pen, with Putin hosting her during a surprise visit to Moscow in the run-up to the vote. Adding to the tensions, alleged cyberattacks on Macron's campaign were linked to Moscow and his supporters accused Russian state media of trying to smear the candidate.

Ties between Russia and France are currently strained as Paris has helped spearhead the West's punitive response to Moscow over the crisis in Ukraine.

The EU has imposed tough economic sanctions on Russia over its 2014 seizure of the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine and backing for eastern insurgents in a three-year conflict that has killed some 10,000 people.

President Vladimir Putin (pictured today with former head of the KGB intelligence group in Dresden Lazar Matveev) has urged Macron to bridge deep rifts and work together in the face of the 'growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism'

France and Germany have led mediation efforts to end the conflict but a 2015 peace plan they brokered has hit a brick wall.

Russia and France are also at odds over the war in Syria where Moscow is flying a bombing campaign in support of leader Bashar al-Assad, who Paris insists must leave power. 

Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said 'the victory of President-elect Macron is a symbolic victory against inward-looking and protectionist moves and shows a vote of confidence in the EU'.

Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he wanted to work together with Macron on a 'progressive agenda' to 'promote international security, increase collaboration in science and technology, and create good, middle-class jobs on both sides of the Atlantic'.

Australia

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had congratulated Macron and had received a text back saying he was 'looking forward to working together'.

Greece

Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras said Macron's victory was 'an inspiration for France and for Europe', adding he was 'sure we will work closely together.'

Spain

'Congratulations to @EmmanuelMacron, new president of #France. Let us work in France and Spain for a stable, prosperous and more integrated Europe,' Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a tweet.

British Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted that she 'warmly congratulates' Macron and wrote that she is 'looking forward' to working with him 

Ireland

'I am delighted that a leader with a positive ambition for Europe has won this election,' said Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

'There's lots of work ahead for all of us in Europe, in a challenging environment, not least on Brexit.'

New Zealand

Prime Minister Bill English welcomed Macron's victory as 'good for political stability', adding 'it's a result I think a lot of people will see as making a clear path for France'.

Sweden

'This is a victory for the French people and for European cooperation. New opportunities will now open up for the proactive agenda needed to strengthen the EU, including more jobs and fair working conditions, a stronger climate policy and a functioning asylum system in which everyone takes responsibility,' said Prime Minister Stefan Lofven.

Brazil

'I congratulate @EmmanuelMacron on his victory in the French presidential election. Brazil and France will continue to work together for democracy, human rights, development, integration and peace,' tweeted President Michel Temer.

Others

Defeated US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who like Macron had her campaign hacked, tweeted: 'Victory for Macron, for France, the EU, & the world. Defeat to those interfering w/democracy. (But the media says I can't talk about that).'

Nigel Farage, former leader of British anti-EU party UKIP, who backed Le Pen, said on Twitter: 'A giant deceit has been voted for today. Macron will be Juncker's puppet.'

In The Netherlands, Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders commiserated with Le Pen, saying in a tweet: 'Well done anyway @MLP-officiel millions of patriots voted for you! You will win next time - and so will I!'

-In Austria, Heinz-Christian Strache, head of the far-right Freedom Party, said Le Pen deserves 'respect... She is from now on the strongest opposition force against Macron.' 

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Le Pen meanwhile voted in Henin-Beaumont, the former coalmining town just 75 miles from Le Touquet.

She is massively in favour of Brexit, and wants France to follow suit with its own Frexit vote - one that would almost certainly lead to the collapse of the whole European project.

Le Pen has continually failed to win a parliamentary seat in Henin-Beaumont - where she shares a flat with her partner, Louis Aliot - and this is her second failed presidential election campaign. 

Le Pen had been continually trailing Macron in opinion polls since the pair beat off competition from nine other candidates and made it through the first round of voting two weeks ago.

Macron will take over from Socialist president Francois Hollande, whose five years in power have led to spiralling unemployment and other economic problems. 

Le Pen (pictured) continually trailed Macron in opinion polls since the pair beat off competition from nine other candidates and made it through the first round of voting two weeks ago

Le Pen spoke to fans after casting her vote in Henin-Beaumont. The anti-globalist wanted to introduce protectionist policies favouring French workers, and strengthen borders, while ending all immigration, legal or not

Le Pen left the Henin Beaumont polling station clutching flowers and travelled to Paris to await the results which were announced later on Sunday night 

Front-runner Macron (pictured) voted in the coastal town of Le Tourquet in northern France alongside his wife, Brigitte 

France's Interior Ministry said voter turnout at midday was running slightly lower than during the last presidential runoff in 2012

Unions are reportedly already planning a protest today and Femen activists were photographed holding flares while standing on a church in Henin-Beaumont

For security reasons, Macron was driven to his nearby polling station at Le Touquet City Hall. He shook hands with a large crowd of supporters before voting

The end of the campaign was blighted on Friday night when suspected Russian hackers posted previously confidential data belonging to En Marche! (On the Move!), Macron's electoral movement.

In a statement, Macron's team described this as 'democratic destabilisation, like that seen during the last presidential campaign in the United States.'

Macron was a fierce critic of Le Pen too, describing his opponent as 'the high priestess of fear', and saying she needed to stop her 'idiocies' and lies'.

In turn, Le Pen said Macron, a former unelected finance minister in France's Socialist government and Rothschild banker, was a 'darling of the system', who wanted to turn the country 'into a trading floor'.

Macron's first big challenge as President will be to built a majority in the National Assembly in parliamentary elections that take place in June. 

Last night some 10,000 Macron supporters filled the courtyard of the Louvre Museum in Paris, waving the tricolour French flag, alongside the starred EU banner.

In contrast, Le Pen - who had called for France to quit the EU in its own Frexit - held a smaller consolation rally in a restaurant on the outskirts of the city, with only hard-line supporters invited. 

This morning, it emerged that France's far-right National Front party is gearing up for a name change - but not a makeover of its ideas - after its decisive loss to Macron.

In interviews Monday, the campaign director for Marine Le Pen, David Rachline, said the party founded by her father would get a new name as bait to pull in more supporters in France.

During the day the Louvre courtyard was evacuated and shut off for just over two hours when police were called to deal with a suspect package found in the media tent.

Ballots were cast by voters protected by private security guards, searching bags and frisking people at entrances, as armed police and soldiers are outlawed from protecting 67,000 French polling stations.

However the 50,000 policemen and gendarmes, together with 7,000 soldiers, on standby were not required.

Macron has previously pledged to start a 'rebirth' of the European project with his pledge to strengthen EU external borders with a 5,000 strong force.

He also wants to maintain the Schengen free-travel zone and appoint a finance minister for the eurozone.

Macron argued that Britain must be dealt a hard Brexit in which the UK leaves the single market, with no free movement, and a completely renegotiated trade deal.

Speaking in October 2016 he said: 'I am attached to a strict approach to Brexit: I respect the British vote but the worst thing would be a sort of weak EU vis-a-vis the British.

'I don't want a tailor-made approach where the British have the best of two worlds. 'That will be too big an incentive for others to leave and kill the European idea, which is based on shared responsibilities.'

Both candidates voted early on Sunday before heading to Paris. Macron arrived at the town hall in Le Touquet, on the English Channel coast, shortly after 10.30am, with his wife Brigitte, 64.

Despite the couple living around the corner with their Argentine Mastiff dog, Figaro, they were in a five-car convoy and surrounded by at least a dozen armed security guards and police officers. 

Le Pen, voted in Henin-Beaumont, the former coal mining town just 75 miles from Le Touquet.

Topless feminist activists, who had climbed on to the roof of the church, hung a banner and shouted anti Le Pen chants, were removed and briefly detained by police before the candidate arrived.

The Femen protest was the latest in many demonstrations against Le Pen or against both candidates. Unions are reportedly already planning a protest today.

Macron, the former Socialist economy minister and one-time banker was all smiles as he stepped out of his holiday home in the seaside resort.

For security reasons, Macron was surrounded by armed security and driven from his nearby home to the polling station in a five-car convoy. 

The French presidential election was rocked by a security alert in the heart of Paris at about 1pm. The courtyard outside the Louvre museum, where Macron plans to hold an election night victory party, was evacuated on police orders after a bomb threat.

Macron looked confident on Sunday morning as he put his ballot paper in a box at the start of a contest, and exit polls suggested he has won 66 per cent of the vote

Despite the couple living around the corner with their Argentine Mastiff dog, Figaro, they were in a five-car convoy and surrounded by at least a dozen armed security guards and police officers 

Presidential candidate Macron was pictured leaving his home to make his way to a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France

Macron (pictured) has described Brexit as 'a crime' and wants the UK to be denied any special privileges as it negotiates its way out of the EU

Marine Le Pen (centre) was escorted by her bodyguard Thierry Legier (second from left) as she walked out the polling station on Sunday morning

The French presidential election was rocked by a security alert in the heart of Paris at about 1pm after the courtyard outside the Louvre museum was evacuated (pictured) on police orders after a bomb threat

Macron's campaign press office said it was a 'suspicious bag' that prompted the evacuation and sniffer dog search. The museum was reopened some 90 minutes later

Brigitte Macron met her husband in 1992, when he was just 15 years old, and a pupil at a private school in Amiens. She was his teacher

Macron's campaign press office said it was a 'suspicious bag' that prompted the evacuation and the museum was reopened some 90 minutes later. 

Outgoing French president Francois Hollande cast his vote in the runoff election to replace him in his political fiefdom of Tulle in southwestern France.

Hollande, the most unpopular French leader in the country's modern history, decided not to stand for re-election last year.

The Socialist president called on voters to back centrist Macron, his former protégé. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni were also photographed voting at a polling station in Paris.

Yesterday the rest of the world watched as the most unpredictable and important French presidential campaign in recent memory ended with a hacking attack targeting Macron on Friday night, just hours before the country went into media blackout. 

The family of Macron's wife, Brigitee, have run a chocolate shop 'Jean Trogneux' for five generations in Amiens, his hometown

Macron grew up in the workers quarters (pictured) in rue Gaulthier de Rumilly in Amiens. Macron has argued that France must rethink its labour laws to better compete globally and appealed for unity and tolerance

The topless women climbed on to the roof of the church, hung a big banner and chanted against far-right Marine Le Pen's National Front party

French President Francois Hollande was mobbed by the press as he left a polling station in Tulle yesterday

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy (left) and his wife Carla Bruni (centre) were photographed voting at a polling station in Paris

Hollande, the most unpopular French leader in the country's modern history, decided not to stand for re-election last year

France's government cybersecurity agency, ANSSI, is investigating the hack, which Macron's team says was aimed at destabilising the vote. 

Fears of outside meddling hung over the race after France's election campaign commission said yesterday that 'a significant amount of data', along with some fake information, was leaked on social networks following the hacking attack on Macron.

The leaked documents appeared largely mundane, and the perpetrators remain unknown. It's unclear whether the document dump will dent the large polling lead Macron held over Le Pen going into the vote. The Paris prosecutors' office said it has launched an investigation following the attack.

The commission urged French media and citizens not to pay attention to the leaked documents. French electoral laws impose a weekend news blackout on any campaigning and media coverage seen as swaying the election meaning Le Pen's campaign could not formally respond due to the blackout.

Sarkozy served as president from 2007 until 2012. Before his presidency, he was the leader of the Union for a Popular Movement party

With Macron the pollsters' favourite, voting stations opened across mainland France at 8am (6am GMT) under the watch of 50,000 security forces guarding against extremist attacks

Voters descended on polling stations across France in an unusually tense election that could decide the future of Europe

The French had stark choice between two candidates - pro-business independent Emmanuel Macron and far-right populist Marine Le Pen

 The far right candidate has made no secret of her dream to quit the EU and its common currency. Macron on-the-other-hand is an unabashed pro-European who wants to strengthen the bloc

Le Pen has broadened the party's appeal by tapping into, and fueling, anger at globalisation and fears associated with immigration and Islamic extremism

Yesterday the rest of the world watched as the most unpredictable and important French presidential campaign in recent memory ended with a hacking attack targeting Macron

Pictured left:  Special macarons in the family chocolate shop. Pictured right: Macron's childhood home in Amiens

Fears of outside meddling hung over the race after France's election campaign commission said yesterday that 'a significant amount of data', along with some fake information, was leaked on social networks following the hacking attack on Macron

Le Pen, voted in Henin-Beaumont, the former coal mining town just 75 miles from Le Touquet.

Topless feminist activists, who had climbed on to the roof of the church, hung a banner and shouted anti Le Pen chants, were removed and briefly detained by police before the candidate arrived.

The Femen protest was the latest in many demonstrations against Le Pen or against both candidates. Unions are reportedly already planning a protest today.

Macron, the former Socialist economy minister and one-time banker was all smiles as he stepped out of his holiday home in the seaside resort.

For security reasons, Macron was surrounded by armed security and driven from his nearby home to the polling station in a five-car convoy. 

The French presidential election was rocked by a security alert in the heart of Paris at about 1pm. The courtyard outside the Louvre museum, where Macron plans to hold an election night victory party, was evacuated on police orders after a bomb threat.