Sharp Rise in Bets for Le Pen Victory in Second-Round: Oddschecker

The revelation comes after Macron’s victory in the first round of the French elections, with the centrist advancing to a May 7 runoff against far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.

“Hollande has asked ministers to fully commit themselves in the election campaign to ensure that Marine Le Pen has the lowest possible result”, French presidential spokesman, Stephane Le Foll, said at the Council of Ministries on Wednesday.

In her campaign speeches, Le Pen has consistently said she is not a candidate of the far-right party and that her policies are hers alone.

Marine Le Pen’s protectionist, anti-establishment message resonated most in parts of France with lower incomes, lower life expectancy and lower education levels, a Reuters analysis of voting in Sunday’s first round shows.

French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron’s campaign has refused press accreditation to Russia’s global television outlet, according to a Monday report, calling RT pro-Moscow “propaganda”.

And she has no plausible major reservoir of votes to add to the 21.3 per cent she received in the first round of the ballot, although she is expected to gain some voters from defeated centre-right candidate Francois Fillon.

“When I hear Madame Le Pen’s slogans, her tones and her gestures, I see a lot more brutality on her side than mine”.

“Slaughter without stunning, I’m sorry, it should have special labels”, Le Pen said.

Stopping the far-right is the immediate priority for the Socialist and Republican parties, but going so far as to call for a vote in favour of Emmanuel Macron has not been easy.

Associated with anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racism, the National Front has historically struggled to unite behind it anywhere near the majority needed to win the French presidency.

“Everyone knows what side Emmanuel Macron is on – he is on the side of the corporations”, Le Pen said.

Incumbent Jacques Chirac obliterated Le Pen 82% to 18%.

Criticism came from all quarters Tuesday, including from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the long-time nationalist leader who questioned her campaign.

“I will feel more free and above all, above party politics, which I think is important”. The statement said the result of the poll would not amount to an endorsement.