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France elections: Macron and Le Pen 'through to run-off' France elections: Macron and Le Pen 'through to run-off'
(about 1 hour later)
The centrist Emmanuel Macron will face far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a run-off for the French presidency on 7 May, multiple projections indicate.The centrist Emmanuel Macron will face far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a run-off for the French presidency on 7 May, multiple projections indicate.
Mr Macron leads with 23.7% in first round voting while Ms Le Pen won 21.7%, an Ipsos/Sopra Steria poll suggests.Mr Macron leads with 23.7% in first round voting while Ms Le Pen won 21.7%, an Ipsos/Sopra Steria poll suggests.
Opinion polls in the run-up to the ballot consistently saw Mr Macron defeating his rival in the final round. Opinion polls in the run-up to the ballot consistently saw Mr Macron defeating his rival in the run-off.
The two saw off a strong challenge from centre-right François Fillon and hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The two fought off a strong challenge from centre-right François Fillon and hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Another projection, from TF1/RTL, put Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen neck and neck in the first round. Final results are expected in the coming hours.Another projection, from TF1/RTL, put Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen neck and neck in the first round. Final results are expected in the coming hours.
The French interior ministry said that with 20 million votes counted, Ms Le Pen led on about 24% of the vote. This would represent about half the vote, but does not include major cities.The French interior ministry said that with 20 million votes counted, Ms Le Pen led on about 24% of the vote. This would represent about half the vote, but does not include major cities.
Whoever wins the next round, the voting marks a shift away from the leftist and centre-right parties that have long dominated French politics. Whoever wins the next round, the voting marks a shift away from the decades-long dominance of leftist and centre-right parties in French politics.
Ms Le Pen leads the eurosceptic, anti-immigrant National Front party. She has attempted to soften the party's tone and brought big gains in the 2015 regional elections. Macron cements his rise
While Ms Le Pen has long been seen as likely to make the second round, Emmanuel Macron's rise has been swift. The BBC's Hugh Schofield says Mr Macron's likely victory is the story of the evening.
He told cheering supporters: "We have changed the face of French political life in one year."
A former banker, Mr Macron served as economy minister under current President Francois Hollande, quitting to launch a new party.
He has never stood for election before and if he wins would become France's youngest-ever president.
A pro-European, he has called for gradual deregulation of France's economy and a multi-billion dollar public investment plan.
Le Pen hails 'historic' result
As the projections came in, Ms Le Pen called herself "the candidate for the people", saying that the "survival of France" was at stake.
"The first step... has been taken," she said. "This result is historic,"
Ms Le Pen leads the Eurosceptic, anti-immigrant National Front party. She has attempted to soften the party's tone and brought big gains in the 2015 regional elections.
She has urged a shake-up of France's relations with the EU, calling for negotiations followed by a referendum.She has urged a shake-up of France's relations with the EU, calling for negotiations followed by a referendum.
After reaching the run-off, she hailed the result as "historic", vowing to defend the French nation and its "independence". Ms Le Pen also wants immigration to be slashed and the closure of "extremist" mosques.
Mr Macron served as economy minister under current President Francois Hollande. Despite his relative inexperience - he has never served as an MP - polls see him defeating Ms Le Pen in the second round. Defeated rivals back Macron
He told the AFP news agency a "new page in French politics" was being turned as the results emerged. Mr Macron is widely seen as favourite in the final round of voting, and in a sign of the uphill struggle Ms Le Pen faces he soon won high-profile endorsements.
Mr Macron is also likely to attract support from the political establishment. Admitting defeat, François Fillon, whose campaign was rocked by corruption allegations, said there was "no other choice" but to vote for Mr Macron.
Defeated rival François Fillon has already endorsed him. Projections give him around 19% of the vote, the same as Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who has so far only said he and his team do not "acknowledge the result on the basis of polls".
With Ms Le Pen long predicted to qualify for the second round, the BBC's Hugh Schofield says Mr Macron's likely victory is the story of the evening. Benoit Hamon, the candidate of President Hollande's Socialist party said "I encourage everyone to fight as hard as they can to fight the extreme right, and to fight for Macron".
In other projections: He endured a difficult night, forecast to win just 6%.
President Hollande himself decided against running amid poor ratings.
Turnout nationally appears to be similar to the last election in 2012, at about 80%.Turnout nationally appears to be similar to the last election in 2012, at about 80%.
Nearly 60,000 police and soldiers were deployed across the country to secure polling, with France still reeling from the shooting of a policeman on the Champs Elysees.Nearly 60,000 police and soldiers were deployed across the country to secure polling, with France still reeling from the shooting of a policeman on the Champs Elysees.