French citizens in Montreal express mixed reactions to early election results
MONTREAL — French nationals in Montreal expressed mixed reactions on Sunday as preliminary results showed far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron leading in the first round of France’s presidential election.
At a French cultural centre in Montreal, both applause and boos rang out as a French TV station announced its projections just after the vote closed at 2 p.m.
While some expressed disappointment that Le Pen would be moving on to the second round, others said they were reassured that Macron was remaining in the race instead of conservative Francois Fillon, or far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.
“I’m more or less surprised, rather relieved,” said Victoire Gonzalez, one of the hundred or so people who gathered at the Union Francaise to watch the results.