Marine Le Pen, the leader of France’s far-right Front National party, has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory.

“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!”

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US Election: Donald Trump supporters celebrate victories in key swing states

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.”

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He claimed the world’s “oligarchy” had been “defeated for a second time after Brexit”.

Shape Created with Sketch. US Election night in pictures

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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.”

Nigel Farage, who spoke at a Trump rally in August, was hailing the second “great political revolution” of 2016.

“I thought the Brexit was big but boy, this looks like it’s going to be bigger,” the Ukip leader told ITV News.

The comments came before the result of the US election was officially decided, at a point when the odds had begun to swing dramatically in Mr Trump’s favour after he won a number of key battleground states.

As her widely-expected victory looked ever-less likely, Hillary Clinton tweeted: “Whatever happens tonight, thank you for everything.”

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