It was not just the population of France that was holding its breath on Sunday. Politicians across the world waited anxiously to see who the country's next president would be. Could the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen deliver the same kind of shock result as the Brexit referendum and Donald Trump's election? Or would Emmanuel Macron become the first French president in 20 years to be re-elected?

In the end, it was Macron who emerged the winner, with 58.54% of the vote. But he did not crow over his defeated opponent. In his speech to supporters gathered beneath the Eiffel Tower, he forbade them to boo people who had voted for Le Pen. He would be, he said, a "president for all".  

Some heads of state have merely symbolic roles. But "the President of the Republic in France has, by law, much more power than any other president in Europe," according to Delphine Dulong, a political science professor at the University of Paris.

Macron controls France's government, parliament and constitutional court; he is also head of the armed forces. He appoints the prime minister and can dissolve the National Assembly. The far-left candidate in the elections, Jean-Luc Melenchon, described the system as a "presidential monarchy".

There is no doubt that Macron has grand ideas about himself. His predecessor, Francois Hollande, promised to be a "normal" president; when Macron was first elected, in 2017, he went to the other extreme and said that he would be a "JupiterianIn Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of the gods." one.

His hopes have been boosted by Angela Merkel's retirement, opening the way for him to become the EU's most influential leader. "A lot of strong voices are gone," notes French journalist Sabine Syfuss-Arnaud:

"Boris Johnson, swept away by Brexit; Sebastian KurzChancellor of Austria from 2017 to 2019 and 2020 to 2021. He lost power when his coalition partners, the far-right Freedom Party of Austria, were exposed as corrupt. , by a corruption case... Viktor OrbanThe prime minister of Hungary. He has clashed with the EU over gay rights and the independence of the judiciary., by his authoritarian attitudes... Olaf ScholzThe new chancellor of Germany. is known neither for his charisma, nor for his ability to wax lyrical, which the French president loves doing and is very talented at."

His ascent comes just as the EU is being hailed as the next great superpower. The US is deeply divided and has lost much of its authority after its failures in Iraq and Afghanistan. China is also riven over its handling of Covid-19, and its economy will suffer as countries retreat from globalisation. Russia's prestige is in tatters thanks to the war in Ukraine.

The EU, meanwhile, has become more unified in the face of Putin's aggression. It is admired for its quality of life, technological advancement, high levels of education and respect for human rights and the rule of law.

While populists such as Marine Le Pen rail against elites, Macron's success is a testament to their power. The journalist Andrew Gimson describes him as "very quick and very clever, surrounded by people who like him went to France's top universities." He studied philosophy, writing a thesis on MachiavelliAn Italian diplomat whose book The Prince argues that rulers are justified in being ruthless if they create a stable state. and HegelA 19th-Century German philosopher., and later became an investment banker.

Yes: Germany is France's only rival as a leader of the EU, and Macron is far more charismatic than Olaf Scholz. Moderate, prosperous and progressive, Europe sets a standard for the rest of the world.  

No: France is as divided as the US, and Macron's party may not have a majority in the next parliament. The EU cannot control members such as Hungary, let alone dictate to the rest of the world.

Or... The head of a democracy will never be the world's most powerful leader - only an autocrat like Putin can be. True power means being able to do what you like, not being held back by a parliament.

Jupiterian - In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of the gods.

Sebastian Kurz - Chancellor of Austria from 2017 to 2019 and 2020 to 2021. He lost power when his coalition partners, the far-right Freedom Party of Austria, were exposed as corrupt. 

Viktor Orban - The prime minister of Hungary. He has clashed with the EU over gay rights and the independence of the judiciary.

Olaf Scholz - The new chancellor of Germany.

Machiavelli - An Italian diplomat whose book The Prince argues that rulers are justified in being ruthless if they create a stable state.

Hegel - A 19th-Century German philosopher.