Macron, Le Pen in fight to lead France

The young independent centrist’s qualification on Sunday for the runoff of France’s presidential election in two weeks’ time will certainly bring a sigh of relief in European capitals and financial markets; opinion polls suggest he will beat his far-right rival Marine Le Pen easily.

Le Pen supporters were equally enthusiastic.

She also said Sunday’s presidential vote is more important than past presidential votes in France.

“I don’t want extremes”, he added.

Thousands of people are rallying in Berlin to show their support for the idea of a united Europe and for a pro-European outcome for France’s presidential election.

“In contrast, Macron’s chances of winning the second round are much higher even though his victory over Le Pen was fairly narrow tonight”, says Brooks.

Le Pen has tried to remake the image of the National Front since she assumed its leadership in 2011.

However, conservative Francois Fillon, a former prime minister whose campaign was initially derailed by corruption allegations that his wife was paid for no-show work as his aide, appeared to be closing the gap, as was far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

The possibility of a Le Pen-Melenchon run-off is not the most likely scenario but is one which alarms bankers and investors.

But do not think she will not be trying to win.

Macron, a 39-year-old who had never before stood for election and only started his independent centrist movement 12 months ago, will be the overwhelming favourite to win the second round on May 7. No disruptions took place when Le Pen was present at the polling place. She portrayed her duel with Macron as a battle between “patriots” and “wild deregulation” – warning of job losses overseas, mass immigration straining resources at home and “the free circulation of terrorists”.

Next to Macron’s promise of unity and hope, Le Pen’s message to her supporters fell on the familiar tone of nationalist, insular rhetoric.

A nuclear power with a seat on the U.N. Security Council and tens of thousands of troops around the world, France is a key US ally in the campaign against the Islamic State group and a major diplomatic player.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker expressed similar good wishes for the second round, his spokesman said in Brussels.

Le Pen: The Donald Trump of France?

In Paris, protesters angry at Ms Le Pen’s advance – some from anarchist and anti-fascist groups – scuffled with police, who fired tear gas to disperse them. Two people were injured and police detained three people as demonstrators burned cars, danced around bonfires and dodged riot police.

Mr. Fillon, who has a strong Catholic support base and is socially conservative, may also enjoy a more stable support base than Mr. Macron.

The well beaten Socialist and centre right Republican Candidates both urged their supporters to vote for Emmanuel Macron in the second round on May 7th.

But other attacks that took place shortly before elections – the November 2015 attacks in Paris ahead of regional elections and the shooting in a Jewish school before the 2012 presidentials – did not have any effect on those ballots.

Security is a prominent issue after a wave of extremist attacks on French soil, including a gunman who killed a Paris police officer Thursday night before being shot dead by security forces.