Germany made a sign of relief on Monday after Sunday's first-round presidential election in France.

"We are pleased and relieved that the vote of the French voters is a pro-European one," Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) quoted a spokesman for the German Foreign Ministry as saying.

Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron and ultra-right candidate Marine Le Pen both entered the second round, but it is generally believed that the former would win on May 7.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman also wished Macron good luck in next month's second round, according to the DPA.

Sigmar Gabriel, German vice chancellor and foreign minister, told reporters that he believed that Macron "was the only pro-European candidate who did not hide behind prejudices against Europe."

One dissenting voice came from Frauke Petry, the co-leader of the right-wing Alternative for Germany party, who congratulated Le Pen for reaching the second round.

"France has given a clear rejection of stagnation and exaggerated political correctness and wants alternatives," DPA quoted Petry as saying.

Source: Xinhua