Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right Front National party, has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, reports The Independent.
“Congratulations to the new President of the US, Donald Trump, and the American people – free!” she tweeted as the Republican candidate edged towards the 270 Electoral College votes needed to reach the White House.
Her father, Front National (FN) founder Jean-Marie Le Pen called Mr Trump the “President of the People”, adding: “Today, the United States, tomorrow, France. Bravo!”
Florian Philippot, the party’s vice president, tweeted a photo of Ms Le Pen with the caption: “Their world is collapsing. Ours is being built.”
He claimed the world’s “oligarchy” had been “defeated for a second time after Brexit”.
Other senior FN members were also sharing their excitement, with secretary general Nicolas Bay calling the result “the victory of the people against the elites”.
The party has been dogged by accusations of racism, anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism, with Mr Le Pen being expelled for his comments on Holocaust gas chambers.
Right-wing politicians across Europe were reacting to the defeat of Hillary Clinton, including Dutch Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders, who wrote: “The people are taking their country back [in the US]. So will we.”