French election: Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen to fight for presidency

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French election: Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen to fight for the presidency

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen will go head-to-head in just under two weeks' time

Centrist Emmanuel Macron has gone through to the second round of the French election, where he will face far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Mr. Macron, a former banker, is seen as a political newcomer - and ran without the backing of an established party.

After topping Sunday's vote, he is now favorite to win the run-off on 7 May.

It is the first time in six decades that neither of France's main left-wing or right-wing parties has had a candidate in the second round.

How tight is the race?

Mr. Macron won 23.8% of votes in the first round, while Ms. Le Pen took 21.5%.

Their nearest challengers, centre-right François Fillon and hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon, fell behind, with just over 19% each.

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But several political rivals are now expected to unite behind Mr. Macron in the run-off vote, in a bid to keep Ms. Le Pen's Front National (FN) from power.

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http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-39689385