PARIS, March 5 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron made mention of the rise of anti-establishment parties in Italy's legislative election at a press conference here on Monday, saying that he takes note of a "brutal context" of the election.
"I take note that, in the world we live in, you can fight for great ideas, but you can't do that without taking into account a brutal context," Macron said.
"It's undeniable that Italy has suffered for months and months under the pressure of migration. This very strong migration pressure is a context we should keep in mind," he added.
The French president said he remained prudent about the voting results, pending Italian President Sergio Mattarella's decision to form a government as required by the constitution.
He also reiterated France's commitment to defend "a Europe that protects" amid mounting populism across European countries.
Early results showed that anti-establishment Five Star Movement and far-right League party emerged the most popular parties in Europe's third main power, giving a blow to the mainstream in a punishment vote over alarming migrant flows, security, and economic recovery.
If confirmed, no party would reach the majority required to govern alone, raising prospects of the creation of a eurosceptic coalition that may challenge Macron's recipe for Europe.
