May demands mandate as big as Macron's before Brexit talks
British Prime Minister Theresa May has called on voters to give her an electoral mandate as big as French president-elect Emmanuel Macron’s for Brexit negotiations.
The British premier made the plea on Monday after Macron was officially elected president by winning 66.1 percent of valid votes in the run-off against his rival, Marine Le Pen, with only 33.9 percent.
“Yesterday a new French president was elected. He was elected with a strong mandate, which he can take as strong position into the negotiations," May said during a campaign event in Harrow, northwest London. "We need to ensure we have got an equally strong mandate and an equally strong negotiating position."
The Tory leader noted that, “every vote for me and my team will strengthen my hand in those Brexit negotiations.”
The French president-elect previously said he would be "pretty tough" in Brexit talks and that his goal would be "to preserve the rest of the European Union and not to convey the message that you can decide to leave without any consequences.”
During his election campaign, Macron had described Brexit as a "crime" that would deliver Britain to "servitude."
A Downing Street spokesman announced on Monday that the UK prime minister congratulated Macron on his victory, saying she looked forward to working with the new head of the French government.
“The Prime Minister warmly congratulates President-elect Macron on his election success. France is one of our closest allies and we look forward to working with the new President on a wide range of shared priorities,” said a statement.
Early this week, May appealed to Britons to support her party in the June 8 election so she can defend the country's interests in divorce talks with Brussels.
European Union leaders, however, have emphasized that the election outcome will have no leverage for Brexit.
Brussels has warned London that the divorce talks will be hard and Britain must pay the price for its decision to leave the bloc.
A recent survey shows that May's Conservative Party is still leading the polls ahead of the general election linked to Britain’s exit from the bloc.
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