French Scientists Pleased by Election Results

French scientists are pleased and relieved with the election of former economic minister Emmanuel Macron (at right) to the country’s presidency, Nature reported. While Macron has pledged to make cuts to public spending, Nature reports that he has said he will “ring-fence the budgets for research and higher education, areas that he wants to make the central plank of a program to boost innovation and cut unemployment. He has also pledged to invest in environmental and clean-energy measures.”

Many scientists and academic leaders in France had spoken out against the far-right party of Macron’s opponent, Marine Le Pen. Nature quoted Gilles Roussel, the head of France’s Conference of University Presidents, which in April had opposed Le Pen. "Unlike the Front National, Emmanuel Macron bears the republican and humanist values that we defend, and which constitute the DNA of universities," Roussel said.