Emmanuel Macron, ahead in the presidential race so far, has warned his supporters that “nothing is done” and his battle with his far-right opponent Marine Le Pen will be a hard fight.
Emmanuel Macron is the only front-runner in the election who has firmly stood behind EU sanctions on Russia (File)
France’s incumbent President Emmanuel Macron is leading in round one of the presidential elections with 27.85% votes. His challenger, Marine Le Pen, is trailing with 23.15%, news agency AFP reported.
Macron, ahead in the presidential race so far, has warned his supporters that “nothing is done” and his battle with his far-right opponent Le Pen will be a hard fight.
Polls opened Sunday across the European country for the first round of polls, with up to 48 million eligible voters choosing from 12 candidates. Macron, seeking his second term in office, is facing an uphill challenge from his far-right contender.
Unless a candidate gets over half of the nationwide vote, there will be a second and decisive round between the top two on April 24.
As a war rages on in the east, France will cast ballots in an election whose results will have international implications. France is the 27-member European bloc’s second economy – its only nuclear power and the one with a UN Security Council veto. As a result, France’s power will help shape the war response of Europe as it struggles to contain the havoc of the war.
The war in Ukraine has given Macron the chance to demonstrate his influence on the world stage and parade his pro-NATO credentials in election campaigns and debates. He is the only front-runner who supports the alliance and has firmly stood behind EU sanctions, while his rival, Le Pen, has worried about their impact on the country’s living standards.
The Euro rising today following the results of the first round points at relief among investors with Macron coming out on top in this round.