This is what the new French president means for the Arab world

After an election rife with controversy and scandal, Emmanuel Macron has become the youngest President in recent French history at just 39 years old.

Taking more than 65 percent of the vote against far-right competitor Marine Le Pen, Macron positioned himself as a "centrist" candidate, promoting himself as "neither left nor right" throughout the campaign. 

In addition to his young age, Macron was relatively unknown in France's political sphere just a few years ago. After serving as the economy minister in current President François Hollande's government, Macron resigned in 2016 after forming his own political movement: En Marche!

While Le Pen positioned herself as anti-immigration, anti-Islam and anti-European Union, Macron has taken a staunchly different stance. With France's historic and continued involvement throughout the Arab world, Macron's perspective now bears significant weight on regional issues. 

Here's a look at where Macron stands on issues relevant to the Middle East and North Africa. 

Unlike many in French politics, Macron has not come out against Muslim attire such as the hijab or the infamous burkini. In October, he said France had made a mistake in unfairly targeting Muslims, suggesting the country needn't be so firm when it comes to enforcing secularism.

"No religion is a problem in France today," he said at a rally. "If the state should be neutral, which is at the heart of secularism, we have a duty to let everybody practice their religion with dignity." 

In January, Macron said that "closing national borders" would not improve European security. He does however believe that border security should be increased, both at land and at sea. 

Macron also praised Germany's open arms policy toward refugees, saying it "saved" Europe's "collective dignity." He strongly defended Chancellor Angela Merkel against criticism saying, “Nothing is more wrong than (the) abject simplifications” made by people who say that “by opening the borders to migrants, the chancellor exposed Europe to severe dangers," according to Euractiv. 

Following the suspected chemical attack in Syria earlier this month, Macron called for intervention against Syrian president Bachar Assad, if it is proven that he was behind the attack.  

"An international intervention is needed ... My preference is that there should be an intervention under the auspices of the United Nations. A military intervention," Macron said, according to Reuters.

Prior to the attack, Macron suggested dialogue with Syria's president is important to resolving the conflict. 

Some have suggested that Macron's pro-business and pro-globalization stances will benefit GCC countries. 

"A victory for Emmanuel Macron would be the best outcome for the Gulf states," leading political analyst Dr. Manuel Almeida wrote in an editorial for Arab News in April. 

"His specific foreign policy views are still largely unknown, but his pragmatism and pro-European and globalization stances would result in a constructive and responsible Middle East policy," he said.  

In a February TV interview, Macron called France's colonial actions in Algeria "genuinely barbaric". He said these actions "constitute a part of" France's past that needs to be confronted and apologized for. 

Macron drew significant criticism for the comments but defended them, saying: "we must face this common, complex past if we want to move on and get along." 

Macron firmly supports a two-state solution in Palestine. 

On Sunday, he reiterated his position in an interview. 

"I defended the principle of a two-state solution, and France’s commitment to that," he said, referring to his time serving as economy minister. He also said that he criticized Israeli settlements, saying: “Those are my consistent positions." 

But he also said that he would not unilaterally recognize Palestine as a state, saying this would cause instability and harm France's relationship with Israel. 

In the past, Macron has taken a firm stance against the BDS movement, saying that he condemns "all forms of boycott on a national and international scale."