In the presidential runoff, the centrist incumbent received 58.5 percent of the vote, compared to 41.5 percent for his nationalist opponent, Marine Le Pen.

Emmanuel Macron has successfully fended off a challenge from far-right leader Marine Le Pen to maintain his presidency in France.

Official results show that Macron, the centrist incumbent, received 58.5 percent of the vote in Sunday’s second-round runoff, compared to 41.5 percent for Le Pen, his nationalist opponent.

Macron won convincingly, but by a lower margin than in 2017, when he became France’s youngest president after winning by more than 30 percentage points. Despite falling short of the Élysée Palace for the third round, Le Pen has received the most votes ever for a far-right contender in France.

Macron congratulated his supporters and vowed a more “independent France” and “stronger Europe” in a victory address on the Champ de Mars in Paris.

“I also know that many of our countrymen voted for me today not to endorse my ideals, but to prevent the extreme right from gaining power “he stated “And I’d want to thank them now and let them know that this vote will tie me for years to come.”

“He went on to say, “From now on, I am not the candidate of one faction, but the president of all.”