It was described as perhaps the most important European election in a generation, and it didn’t disappoint. France dodged a bullet at least for the time being by rejecting the angry voices of the far right and overwhelmingly electing Emmanuel Macron, a relative political novice, as its next president.

But the clock is still ticking, for France and for the rest of Europe. The threat of the nationalist far-right in Europe remains powerful, general economic stagnation is still widely felt and, unless Macron himself turns out to be a miracle man, most realists see his victory as, at best, a temporary reprieve.

In addition, and never to be forgotten, is the fact that the results still placed Marine Le Pen, the far-right National Front leader, in a strong position to compete for power in the next presidential election.

However, it was a stunning personal victory for Macron. At 39 years of age, exuding all charm and sunny ways as a campaigner, he will soon be the youngest head of state in France since 1848.

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The former investment banker had formed his own political movement a year ago, knowing that France had never elected a president from outside the traditional parties. Macron ran as an independent centrist.

Spurred on by the British “Brexit” vote last June, European unity has been under unprecedented assault in recent months, including from U.S. President Donald Trump. Political leaders throughout Europe quickly expressed relief at the French results.

The battle for France had assumed enormous importance even though voters in Austria and the Netherlands had turned against extremist parties in earlier elections. The glow of Macron’s victory may well extend to Germany in September when Chancellor Angela Merkel goes up for re-election.

At issue there, as well as in France and elsewhere in Europe, is the overriding choice in front of voters: Can Europe’s current leaders solve the serious economic and social problems confronting the continent? Or is it time to try out the more extremist, nationalist political options?

Europe’s leaders particularly welcomed the presence in France of a passionate pro-European leader such as Macron. But their enthusiasm will extend only as long as Macron’s popularity does, and that may be short-lived.

There is a dismal track record in France of presidents starting off with wonderfully high approval ratings — Mitterand, Chirac, Sarkozy, Hollande — and then falling dramatically out of favour.

Macron will face his first obstacle in a month when France again goes to the polls for its parliamentary elections. It is a long shot to expect that Macron’s new party can win enough seats for a majority. Without a majority, his effectiveness as president will be compromised.

The other challenge for Macron is the extent of France’s economic problems. They have stymied many a French politician. Macron has promised to make France more competitive worldwide and to strengthen its ties with the European Union in an effort to assure establishment voices anxious about the prospect of a National Front victory.

Given his lack of political experience, Macron is almost as much of a mystery in France as he is abroad. The campaign’s only TV debate between the two candidates, held last week, ended in a clear victory for Macron, according to polls. He accused Le Pen of lying to the French public, snapping: “France deserves better than you.”

It will be intriguing when Macron, as president of France for the next five years, visits Donald Trump’s Washington for the first time. Trump, after all, expressed support during the French campaign for Le Pen.

But these two presidents have at least one thing in common: There is a 24-year age gap between each of them and their respective wives.

Melania Trump is 24 years younger than Donald Trump. Macron’s wife, Brigitte Trogneux, is 24 years older than he is.

In spite of his supporters’ euphoria after the victory, the road ahead for Macron will not be smooth. As a former banker and, briefly, a minister in the government, his policies are in line with the current government. But these past policies have not worked, and that government is now deeply unpopular. Why should Macron, his charm aside, not eventually meet the same fate?

If that happens, Le Pen, who is only 48, will still be a formidable presence in French politics. She received about 38 per cent of the vote — more than double her party’s previous best.

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Even more significant, and incredible as this sounds, the party also seemed to further distance itself among many young French voters from the racist, anti-Semitic past of the National Front under its founder, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine’s father. The party will inevitably benefit from this amnesia in the years ahead.

For those who believe in a united, progressive and tolerant Europe, that alarming prospect should focus the mind.

Tony Burman is former head of Al Jazeera English and CBC News. Reach him @TonyBurman or at tony.burman@gmail.com .

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