Centrist and EU supporter Emmanuel Macron the Magnificent has won the first round of the French Presedential election. Le Pen came a disappointing second and given Macron will get the support of the other candidates supporters basically he should become the next President of France.
"Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen are set to face each other in a May 7 runoff for the French presidency after coming first and second in the first round of voting overnight.
Key points:
- Macron won about 24 per cent of vote with Le Pen slightly behind at 22 per cent
- Other top candidates Francois Fillon and Jean-Luc Melenchon were eliminated
- Le Pen lauds 'historic result' as Macron vows to fight nationalism
A tale of two outsiders
Emmanuel Macron is now the favourite to become the next president of France, but for Marine Le Pen, even a loss will represent a victory of sorts, writes Lisa Millar.
In a race that was too close to call up to the last minute,
Mr Macron, a pro-European Union ex-banker and economy minister who founded his own party only a year ago, won the first round with roughly 24 per cent of the vote.
Ms Le Pen,
leader of the anti-immigration and anti-EU National Front, came in second with 22 per cent.
"In one year, we have changed the face of French politics," Mr Macron said in a victory speech after the vote.
Conservative candidate Francois Fillon and far-left contender Jean-Luc Melenchon both came up with roughly 20 per cent, meaning they were eliminated from the presidential race.
The result means that France will see a face-off between politicians with radically contrasting economic visions for a country whose economy lags behind that of its neighbours and where a quarter of young people are unemployed.
Protesters angry that Ms Le Pen was advancing to the second round scuffled with police in Paris.”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-24/macron-le-pen-through-to-runoff-in-french-election/8465782
