Exit poll: Emanuel Macron is next French president

Shortly after voting ended in the French presidential runoff election, exit polls gave centrist candidate Emanuel Macron, 39, a large majority of 65.5 percent over his 34.5 percent for his rival, Marine Le Pen.  Macron only founded a new party En Marche! a year ago. He plans a grand celebration at the Louvre in Paris. Minutes later, Le Pen conceded victory to Macron and wished him success. The turnout was unusually low at 65.3 percent with many abstentions indicating many French voters were not enamored of either candidate. Le Pen plans to position her party as leading opposition party. In a month, France votes for a national assembly. Macron's new party will run for its first seats and Le Pen hopes to expand her two-deputy National Front’s representation. Chancellor Merkel to Macron: Your victory is a victory for a strong united Europe and German-Franco friendship.