This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/385809-france-first-round-elections-preliminary/

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Macron, Le Pen lead in 1st round of French presidential elections – projection Macron, Le Pen lead in 1st round of French presidential elections – projection
(about 3 hours later)
Emmanuel Macron of the centrist En Marche! movement leads in the first round of the presidential elections in France, projections shows. Marine Le Pen of the National Front finished the tight race second.Emmanuel Macron of the centrist En Marche! movement leads in the first round of the presidential elections in France, projections shows. Marine Le Pen of the National Front finished the tight race second.
WATCH RT's special coverage of the first round of France's presidential electionWATCH RT's special coverage of the first round of France's presidential election
Macron received 23.8 percent of the votes and Le Pen 21.6 percent, according to French research firm IFOP. Another global research company, IPSOS, says the two candidates received 23.7 and 21.7 percent of the votes, respectively. Follow RT's LIVE UPDATES
However, according to a preliminary vote count, Marine Le Pen leads in the first round, with Macron second, Bloomberg reported, citing the French Interior Ministry.
Citing partial figures from the ministry, Reuters also reported that based on some 20 million votes counted, Le Pen leads the vote. The results do not include votes from France's largest cities, it added. The French Interior Ministry published a map showing the areas of the country where the candidates are in the lead.
Francois Fillon of The Republicans and Jean-Luc Melenchon of La France Insoumise are also among the top four. Northern and eastern France showed support for Marine Le Pen, while western and southwestern France said ‘Oui’ to Emmanuel Macron.
Left-wing socialist Melenchon has called for "restraint" over any preliminary results. Saying that he does not yet accept defeat, the candidate refused to validate any but the official results of the voting, which, he said, will be "respected." On Sunday evening, Macron addressed his supporters, telling the crowd: “In one year, we have changed the face of French politics.”
He thanked the millions who voted for him and former competitors Francois Fillon (Republican party) and Benoit Hamon (Socialist party) for their endorsement in the second-round runoff.
Marine Le Pen, in her turn addressed her supporters, saying that a great debate about globalization can now finally take place. She also said that she will "free the French people from arrogant elites," adding that the country's "survival is at stake."
Left-wing socialist Melenchon called for "restraint" over any preliminary results. Saying that he does not yet accept defeat, the candidate refused to validate any but the official results of the voting, which, he said, will be "respected."
After the full official results of the first round of voting are announced on Wednesday, April 26, at 5pm Paris time, the top two candidates will then proceed to a run-off vote on May 7.After the full official results of the first round of voting are announced on Wednesday, April 26, at 5pm Paris time, the top two candidates will then proceed to a run-off vote on May 7.
READ MORE: Food fights & holograms: French election campaigns are more than just boring politicsREAD MORE: Food fights & holograms: French election campaigns are more than just boring politics
The figures pretty much confirm previous estimates of who the top four contenders are in the race, out of a total of 11 candidates.
Benoit Hamon of the Socialist Party, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan of Debout la France, Nathalie Arthaud of Lutte Ouvriere, Philippe Poutou of the New Anticapitalist Party, Jacques Cheminade of Solidarity and Progress, Jean Lassalle of Resistons!, and Francois Asselineau of the Popular Republican Union also initially vied for moving into Elysee Palace.
Should the line-up remain the same after official results are announced, it will mark the defeat of all the major parties in France. Based on the projections, it’s the first time that no major-party candidate will advance to the presidential runoff in modern French history, AP reports.
The French Interior Ministry has started to publish the first official results of the first round of voting, mainly from its overseas territories.
At his election day rally after polls closed, Macron expressed optimism for the second round of the presidential vote. Saying that he intends to become the leader of France in two weeks, Macron called on all the French people to unite and to "not forget these moments when you changed the fate of the country."
He also announced he was ready to create a coalition in the French parliament starting from Monday.
Speaking to the AFP news agency, Macron said together with his supporters he is "turning a page in French political history."
France's Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has called on all democrats to vote for Macron in the second round.France's Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has called on all democrats to vote for Macron in the second round.
Speaking at his campaign HQ following the voting, Les Republicains’ Francois Fillon called for a vote for Macron in the second round. Saying that "extremism can bring nothing but pain," in an apparent reference to Macron's main rival, the National Front's Le Pen, Fillon said he would not abstain while "an extremist" party is approaching power.Speaking at his campaign HQ following the voting, Les Republicains’ Francois Fillon called for a vote for Macron in the second round. Saying that "extremism can bring nothing but pain," in an apparent reference to Macron's main rival, the National Front's Le Pen, Fillon said he would not abstain while "an extremist" party is approaching power.
A former investment banker who served as economics minister in President Francois Hollande's Socialist government, Emmanuel Macron has been among the most favored to win the presidency.A former investment banker who served as economics minister in President Francois Hollande's Socialist government, Emmanuel Macron has been among the most favored to win the presidency.
Described as an independent centrist, the millionaire quit Hollande's party to form his own En Marche! (Onwards!) movement last year. Described as an independent centrist, the millionaire quit Hollande's party to form his own En Marche! (Onwards!) movement last year. 
READ MORE: Liberté d'expression? RT, Ruptly crews blocked from Macron HQ despite press requestsREAD MORE: Liberté d'expression? RT, Ruptly crews blocked from Macron HQ despite press requests
The 39-year-old received an apparent call of support from former US President Barack Obama earlier this month, though Obama's spokesperson said he is "not making any formal endorsement" in the race.The 39-year-old received an apparent call of support from former US President Barack Obama earlier this month, though Obama's spokesperson said he is "not making any formal endorsement" in the race.
Marcon is pro-European union, rallying for France to stay within the Schengen zone. He aims to cut corporate taxes, reduce public spending by €60 billion (US$64.3 billion), and cut 120,000 public sector jobs.Marcon is pro-European union, rallying for France to stay within the Schengen zone. He aims to cut corporate taxes, reduce public spending by €60 billion (US$64.3 billion), and cut 120,000 public sector jobs.
He has spoken of reforming labor laws and getting tougher on unemployment benefit recipients who have repeatedly turned down job offers.He has spoken of reforming labor laws and getting tougher on unemployment benefit recipients who have repeatedly turned down job offers.
Reacting to the first unofficial results of the Sunday voting, French lawmaker Marion Marechal Le Pen, who is the niece of Marine Le Pen, called the election "a historic victory for patriots."Reacting to the first unofficial results of the Sunday voting, French lawmaker Marion Marechal Le Pen, who is the niece of Marine Le Pen, called the election "a historic victory for patriots."
Speaking at her HQ, Marine Le Pen herself called the result of the Sunday voting "historic." Saying that she stands for France that "protects its values and its borders," Le Pen told her supporters it's time "for a great change" in the second round, and called on all "patriots" to come out in the interests of the French nation.
READ MORE: Le Pen vows to challenge ‘savage globalization’ in final push ahead of French presidential voteREAD MORE: Le Pen vows to challenge ‘savage globalization’ in final push ahead of French presidential vote
The leader of the far-right National Front party, Marine Le Pen has become well known for speaking out against France's current position within the EU. Her views have prompted many to fear the country will follow in Britain's footsteps with a so-called “Frexit.”The leader of the far-right National Front party, Marine Le Pen has become well known for speaking out against France's current position within the EU. Her views have prompted many to fear the country will follow in Britain's footsteps with a so-called “Frexit.”
Le Pen has, however, stated that she would first seek to revise France's terms with the EU, and would then ask for a referendum which would allow the people to decide whether they want to remain in the bloc. She says EU membership has stripped France of its autonomy, on topics including immigration, monetary, and fiscal policy.Le Pen has, however, stated that she would first seek to revise France's terms with the EU, and would then ask for a referendum which would allow the people to decide whether they want to remain in the bloc. She says EU membership has stripped France of its autonomy, on topics including immigration, monetary, and fiscal policy.
The candidate has also hit out at mass immigration, Islamic fundamentalism and financial globalization.The candidate has also hit out at mass immigration, Islamic fundamentalism and financial globalization.
READ MORE: What does French Presidential election mean for Europe, Russia & world?READ MORE: What does French Presidential election mean for Europe, Russia & world?