French presidential election: Macron, Le Pen in early lead

by Dolapo Adelana

Centrist candidate, Emmanuel Macron and the president of the far-right National Front, Marine Le Pen have taken an early lead in the presidential election in France, according to latest polls.

The first projections show that both candidates are through to the second and final round, which will be held on May 7.

Macron was projected to get 24 percent by the pollster Harris and 23.7 percent by Elabe.

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Both pollsters projected that Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigration and anti-EU National Front, will receive 22 percent.

However, Francois Fillion, a former minister and leader of the conservative Republican party has pulled out of the race declaring his support for Macron.

Le Pen has promised to review the country’s ties with the EU and raised the prospect of leaving the bloc.

As soon as voting ended, Le Pen’s niece Marion Jeanne Caroline Marechal-Le Pen, called the election “a historical victory for patriots”.

Speaking with the AFP news agency, Macron said, “We’re turning a page in French political history.”

At least 47 million people are eligible to vote in France.

By late afternoon, turnout was above 69 percent – almost as high as the 2012 presidential vote – and could run to 80 percent in total.

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