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  • Apr 24th, 2017
  • Comments Off on New polls show Macron easily beating Le Pen in run-off
New opinion polls published Sunday suggested France's pro-European candidate Emmanuel Macron would easily beat far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election on May 7.

Two polls by Ipsos Sopra Steria and Harris Interactive showed that Macron would win 62-64 percent against 36-38 percent for National Front leader Le Pen if the run-off was held Sunday.

Meanwhile, Pro-European Emmanuel Macron will face far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the second round of France's presidential election, projections showed Sunday, making him clear favourite to emerge as the country's youngest leader in modern history.

Macron was projected to win 23-24 percent in Sunday's first round, slightly ahead of National Front (FN) leader Le Pen with 21.6-23 percent, according to estimates on public television.

They will compete in a run-off on May 7.

"The French have expressed their desire for change," Macron told AFP in a statement.

"We're clearly turning a page in French political history," said the 39-year-old, whose bid to shake up traditional politics and his marriage to his former school teacher has fascinated the country.

The outcome capped an extraordinary campaign in a deeply divided and demoralised France, which has been hit by a series of terror attacks since 2015 and remains stuck with low economic growth. It also signalled a stunning shake-up in national politics, with no candidate from France's mainstream Socialist and Republicans parties in the second round for the first time in 60 years.

Macron, who had never before stood for election and only started his centrist movement 12 months ago, will go into the second round as the clear frontrunner.

Polls released after the first-round estimates showed the centrist, pro-business moderniser would easily beat Le Pen, who has hardened her anti-immigration and anti-Europe rhetoric over the last week.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2017


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