Le Pen vs Macron In French Election May 7

Marine Le Pen Emmanuel Macron go head to head in election

• Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and independent centrist Emmanuel Macron have made it to the second round 
• Republican candidate Francois Fillon conceded after he and far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon got 19.5%
• Jean-Luc Melenchon has refused to concede defeat until final results of first-round vote are announced 
• France's Prime Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, has called on voters to support Macron instead of Le Pen
• This is the first time in 60 years none of France's mainstream parties have entered the second round
• Riots have broken out in Nantes and Paris' Place de la Bastille - the birthplace of the French Revolution

France could face its own 'Frexit' in the future after far-right leader Marine Le Pen and independent centrist Emmanuel Macron beat the two main parties to go head to head in the upcoming presidential elections.

With 34 percent of the vote counted, France's Interior Ministry says that far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is leading with 24.6 percent of the vote followed by centrist Emmanuel Macron with 21.9 percent. 

But it is thought that Le Pen's chances of winning are limited as supporters for Republican candidate and third place contender, Francois Fillon, who conceded, will support Macron.

However, far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon has refused to concede defeat until final results of first-round vote are announced.

Celebrating his victory, Macron said: 'The French have expressed their desire for change. We're clearly turning a page in French political history.' 

Le Pen later told her supporters she is offering `the great alternative' in the presidential race.

French leaders unite around Macron to defeat right-wing Le Pen

France’s prime minister on Sunday led calls from across the political spectrum urging voters to support centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron against far-right rival Marine Le Pen in the country’s presidential election.

Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve urged the defeat of Le Pen’s National Front party, in comments just after polling agencies projected the two advancing to the May 7 presidential runoff.

French President Francois Hollande congratulated Macron on reaching the presidential runoff, indicating his support for the candidate.

The announcement from Cazeneuve came moments after the Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon conceded defeat. Hamon also urged his voters to back Macron, Reuters reported

With 34 percent of the vote counted, France’s Interior Ministry said that Le Pen was leading with 24.6 percent of the vote followed by Macron with 21.9%.