COMMENT | France has chosen its new and youngest president in Emmanuel Macron.

In his victory speech to the crowd on Sunday night, Macron said: "Tonight you won, France won. Everyone told us it was impossible, but they don't know France."

His victory is a signal that you can be young and don't have to be mainstream to win, as long as the people are with you.

Another lesson is that Macron’s victory was a clear rejection of France's mainstream parties, and voters have turned to the 39-year-old to help bring unity to a deeply fractured country.

"A new page of our history has turned this evening, I want that page to be one of hope and renewed trust. The renewal of our public life will be at the base of what I do from the very first day of our presidency," he said...