‘Liberal democracy in action’: world leaders congratulate Macron on French election win

Presidents and prime ministers from Europe, the Americas and across the world have expressed relief at Emmanuel Macron's victory over Marine Le Pen

• Victorious Macron vows to unite France

World leaders have congratulated France's centrist President Emmanuel Macron on his re-election and the defeat of far-right leader Marine Le Pen in elections on Sunday.

Macron's win triggered relief among allies that the nuclear-armed power won't abruptly shift course in the midst of the war in Ukraine from European Union and Nato efforts to punish and contain Russia's military expansionism.