In France, the first round of voting for the presidential election concluded. Partial results after the first round are putting incumbent president Emmanuel Macron in first place ahead of far-right candidate Marine Le Pen.

Macron finishes ahead of Marine Le Pen in first round of French presidential elections

France`s incumbent leader Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will qualify for an April 24 presidential election runoff, initial projections by four pollsters showed after voting closed on Sunday.

Macron led Le Pen in the first round, the separate estimates by Ifop, OpinionWay, Elabe and Ipsos showed. Macron won 28.1-29.5% of votes while Le Pen won 23.3-24.4% of voter support, they projected.

That outcome would set up a duel between an economic liberal with a globalist outlook in Macron and a deeply eurosceptic economic nationalist who, until the Ukraine war, was an open admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Not for two decades has a French president won a second term.

Barely a month ago, Macron appeared near certain to reverse that trend, riding high in polls thanks to strong economic growth, a fragmented opposition and his statesman role in trying to avert war on Europe`s eastern flank.

But he has paid the price for late entry into the campaign during which he eschewed market walkabouts in provincial France in favour of a single big rally outside Paris. A plan to make people work longer has also proved unpopular.

By contrast, Le Pen has for months toured towns and villages across France, focusing on cost-of-living issues that trouble millions and tapping into deep-seated anger towards the distant political elite.

A more than 10 point lead Macron had enjoyed as late as mid-March evaporated and voter surveys ahead of the first round showed his margin of victory in an eventual runoff whittled down to within the margin of error.

"I`m scared of the political extremes," said pensioner Therese Eychenne, 89, after voting for Macron in Paris. "I don`t know what would become of France."

Investor nerves

Investors took note of Le Pen`s surge. The yield on French 5- and 10-year government bonds hit multi-year highs last week.

A Le Pen victory on April 24 would constitute a similar jolt to the establishment as Britain`s Brexit vote to leave the European Union (EU) or Donald Trump`s 2017 entry into the White House.

France, the EU`s second largest economy, would lurch from being a driving force for European integration to being led by a euro-sceptic who is also suspicious of the NATO military alliance.

While Le Pen has ditched past ambitions for a "Frexit" or to haul France out of the euro zone`s single currency, she envisages the EU as a mere alliance of sovereign states.

Who next holds the Elysee Palace will depend on how those who backed Macron and Le Pen`s rivals cast their ballots.

In past elections in 2002 and 2017, voters on the left and right have united to block the far-right from power.

However, surveys suggest that the so-called "republicain front" has crumbled, with many left-wing voters saying they are loathe to endorse a leader they deride as arrogant and a "president of the rich."

"We want change, so why not give her a chance (in round two)?" technician Alex Talcone said in the Paris suburb of Bobigny after voting for hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

France`s incumbent leader Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will qualify for an April 24 presidential election runoff, initial projections by four pollsters showed after voting closed on Sunday.

France`s incumbent leader Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will qualify for an April 24 presidential election runoff, initial projections by four pollsters showed after voting closed on Sunday. Macron led Le Pen in the first round, the separate estimates by Ifop, OpinionWay, Elabe and Ipsos showed. Macron won 28.1-29.5% of votes while Le Pen won 23.3-24.4% of voter support, they projected. That outcome would set up a duel between an economic liberal with a globalist outlook in Macron and a deeply eurosceptic economic nationalist who, until the Ukraine war, was an open admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Not for two decades has a French president won a second term. Barely a month ago, Macron appeared near certain to reverse that trend, riding high in polls thanks to strong economic growth, a fragmented opposition and his statesman role in trying to avert war on Europe`s eastern flank. But he has paid the price for late entry into the campaign during which he eschewed market walkabouts in provincial France in favour of a single big rally outside Paris. A plan to make people work longer has also proved unpopular. By contrast, Le Pen has for months toured towns and villages across France, focusing on cost-of-living issues that trouble millions and tapping into deep-seated anger towards the distant political elite. A more than 10 point lead Macron had enjoyed as late as mid-March evaporated and voter surveys ahead of the first round showed his margin of victory in an eventual runoff whittled down to within the margin of error. "I`m scared of the political extremes," said pensioner Therese Eychenne, 89, after voting for Macron in Paris. "I don`t know what would become of France." Investor nerves Investors took note of Le Pen`s surge. The yield on French 5- and 10-year government bonds hit multi-year highs last week. A Le Pen victory on April 24 would constitute a similar jolt to the establishment as Britain`s Brexit vote to leave the European Union (EU) or Donald Trump`s 2017 entry into the White House. France, the EU`s second largest economy, would lurch from being a driving force for European integration to being led by a euro-sceptic who is also suspicious of the NATO military alliance. While Le Pen has ditched past ambitions for a "Frexit" or to haul France out of the euro zone`s single currency, she envisages the EU as a mere alliance of sovereign states. Who next holds the Elysee Palace will depend on how those who backed Macron and Le Pen`s rivals cast their ballots. In past elections in 2002 and 2017, voters on the left and right have united to block the far-right from power. However, surveys suggest that the so-called "republicain front" has crumbled, with many left-wing voters saying they are loathe to endorse a leader they deride as arrogant and a "president of the rich." "We want change, so why not give her a chance (in round two)?" technician Alex Talcone said in the Paris suburb of Bobigny after voting for hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon.

Macron, Le Pen seen qualifying for French election runoff: Initial projections

A stunning 32 percent of French voters say they might not vote on the upcoming presidential elections because they feel there is nothing new in the candidates' campaigns, the first round of polling will take place on the April 10.

French Presidential Elections | IPSOS Poll shows 32% of voters likely to abstain

The presidential race in France is heating up but this is an election that's also taking place at a time when Russia has invaded into Ukraine. The war risks becoming a key issue in in the French electoral politics, here's how!

French Elections: Marine Le Pen targeted over Russian ties, accused of being close to Putin

In France, the race is tightening between the two front runners for the April 24th run-off. Far-right leader and candidate Marine Le Pen is staging a comeback in the polls as her presidential campaign gains momentum.

French Elections 2022: Marine Le Pen at all-time high in polls

The French presidential elections is tightening as the country goes to polls this Sunday. The top two favorites are the incumbent Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen and in the latest the two are battling over pension reforms in the country.

French Presidential Elections | Emmanuel Macron vs Marine Le Pen: The battle over pension reforms

France is all set to go for presidential polls in 2022. The country will hold elections in April to elect a new president.

France: Emmanuel Macron announces his candidacy for a second term

French voters cast ballots in run-off elections on Sunday. The elections can give far-right in French politics its first regional powerbase. In the first round of voting last Sunday,&nbsp;President Emmanuel Macron's party was to get none of France's 13 regions. However, the election was also disappointing for far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Low voter turnout has been a surprising factor in these elections. On Sunday, only 27.89 per cent of voters had turned out by 1500 GMT. This is very low as compared to 50.54 per cent in 2015.

"I have no intention whatsoever to go and vote today, simply because I've lost faith in our politicians," Parisian Jean-Jacques told Reuters TV while strolling on one of the River Seine's bridges.

But others were galvanised by news of last Sunday's low turnout. "I didn't vote last week, but the abstention rate was a bit of a wake-up call, and so I decided to come and vote today instead of staying at home or going for a walk, because it is important," said 38-year old lawyer Masing Coulibaly.

In the first round of elections, Le Pen's party fell short of prediction. It came at the top in just one region, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur

The traditional centre-right which was decimated by Macron in 2017 presidential and legislative elections, staged a surprise comeback.

A trio of its top members, all former ministers and currently at the helm of some of France's most populous regions, are running for re-election this Sunday, which they hope will give them a springboard for the 2022 presidential race.

EMERGING FAVOURITE

In particular, Xavier Bertrand of the northern Hauts-de-France region around Calais has emerged as the conservatives' favourite in opinion polls to represent the party in the presidential election.

Macron's aides see the former health minister as a threat who could eat away at the president's centre-right voter base in the first round of the presidential vote in April.

Valerie Pecresse in the greater Paris region and Laurent Wauquiez in the greater Lyon area are the other conservatives whose fate on Sunday could decide whether they challenge Bertrand in 2022 for the centre-right ticket.

Le Pen's National Rally still hopes to win its first ever region in the southeast around Marseille and Nice. Her candidate, Thierry Mariani, a former conservative minister, beat the incumbent from the centre-right last Sunday, but by a lower margin than expected.

Victory would give Le Pen momentum and a platform to challenge Macron in 2022, a repeat of the 2017 duel that polls show would be won by Macron again, though by a slimmer margin.

Elsewhere, the Greens and leftwing allies are hoping to capture the Loire valley region, while a four-way contest in Burgundy gives an outside chance to the far-right to win power.

(With inputs from agencies)

French voters cast ballots in run-off elections on Sunday. The elections can give far-right in French politics its first regional powerbase. In the first round of voting last Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron's party was to get none of France's 13 regions.

French voters cast ballots in run-off elections on Sunday. The elections can give far-right in French politics its first regional powerbase. In the first round of voting last Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron's party was to get none of France's 13 regions. However, the election was also disappointing for far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Low voter turnout has been a surprising factor in these elections. On Sunday, only 27.89 per cent of voters had turned out by 1500 GMT. This is very low as compared to 50.54 per cent in 2015. "I have no intention whatsoever to go and vote today, simply because I've lost faith in our politicians," Parisian Jean-Jacques told Reuters TV while strolling on one of the River Seine's bridges. But others were galvanised by news of last Sunday's low turnout. "I didn't vote last week, but the abstention rate was a bit of a wake-up call, and so I decided to come and vote today instead of staying at home or going for a walk, because it is important," said 38-year old lawyer Masing Coulibaly. In the first round of elections, Le Pen's party fell short of prediction. It came at the top in just one region, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur The traditional centre-right which was decimated by Macron in 2017 presidential and legislative elections, staged a surprise comeback. A trio of its top members, all former ministers and currently at the helm of some of France's most populous regions, are running for re-election this Sunday, which they hope will give them a springboard for the 2022 presidential race. EMERGING FAVOURITE In particular, Xavier Bertrand of the northern Hauts-de-France region around Calais has emerged as the conservatives' favourite in opinion polls to represent the party in the presidential election. Macron's aides see the former health minister as a threat who could eat away at the president's centre-right voter base in the first round of the presidential vote in April. Valerie Pecresse in the greater Paris region and Laurent Wauquiez in the greater Lyon area are the other conservatives whose fate on Sunday could decide whether they challenge Bertrand in 2022 for the centre-right ticket. Le Pen's National Rally still hopes to win its first ever region in the southeast around Marseille and Nice. Her candidate, Thierry Mariani, a former conservative minister, beat the incumbent from the centre-right last Sunday, but by a lower margin than expected. Victory would give Le Pen momentum and a platform to challenge Macron in 2022, a repeat of the 2017 duel that polls show would be won by Macron again, though by a slimmer margin. Elsewhere, the Greens and leftwing allies are hoping to capture the Loire valley region, while a four-way contest in Burgundy gives an outside chance to the far-right to win power. (With inputs from agencies)

Low voter turnout in second round of French elections

French President Emmanuel Macron`s centre-right party has formed an alliance with the conservative Les Republicains (LR) for regional elections in June in the southern Provence-Alpes-Cote d`Azur region, the prime minister was cited as saying on Sunday. 
 
Coming a year after Macron’s La Republique en Marche (LREM) party got trounced in municipal elections, the alliance shows a recognition within the ruling party that it is too weak and unpopular to win some regions on its own. 
 
Junior Minister Sophie Cluzel, the LREM`s regional candidate, will thus run on same ticket led by Les Republicains` Renaud Muselier, president of the regional assembly. 
 
Prime Minister Jean Castex told Le Journal du Dimanche that Muselier had proposed the alliance, to which Macron`s party had responded "very positively". 
 
Muselier`s will be facing the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, which in 2015 garnered 45% of the votes in the previous regional elections. 
 
However, some conservatives are unhappy with the alliance. Macron has methodically weakened their party since he took power in 2017 by poaching many of its members for positions in government. 
 
The head of Les Republicains party Christian Jacob said on Twitter on Sunday that his party was withdrawing its backing for Muselier`s candidacy, criticising him and Castex for what he called political "manoeuvres". 
 
The Republicains have yet to agree on a candidate for the presidential election next year, and some fear such local alliances with the LREM will further weaken their credibility as an alternative to Macron. 
 
The first round of the regional elections will be held on June 20, with the second round due on June 27.

French President Emmanuel Macron`s centre-right party has formed an alliance with the conservative Les Republicains (LR) for regional elections in June in the southern Provence-Alpes-Cote d`Azur region, the prime minister was cited as saying on Sunday.

French President Emmanuel Macron`s centre-right party has formed an alliance with the conservative Les Republicains (LR) for regional elections in June in the southern Provence-Alpes-Cote d`Azur region, the prime minister was cited as saying on Sunday. Coming a year after Macron’s La Republique en Marche (LREM) party got trounced in municipal elections, the alliance shows a recognition within the ruling party that it is too weak and unpopular to win some regions on its own. Junior Minister Sophie Cluzel, the LREM`s regional candidate, will thus run on same ticket led by Les Republicains` Renaud Muselier, president of the regional assembly. Prime Minister Jean Castex told Le Journal du Dimanche that Muselier had proposed the alliance, to which Macron`s party had responded "very positively". Muselier`s will be facing the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party, which in 2015 garnered 45% of the votes in the previous regional elections. However, some conservatives are unhappy with the alliance. Macron has methodically weakened their party since he took power in 2017 by poaching many of its members for positions in government. The head of Les Republicains party Christian Jacob said on Twitter on Sunday that his party was withdrawing its backing for Muselier`s candidacy, criticising him and Castex for what he called political "manoeuvres". The Republicains have yet to agree on a candidate for the presidential election next year, and some fear such local alliances with the LREM will further weaken their credibility as an alternative to Macron. The first round of the regional elections will be held on June 20, with the second round due on June 27.

Macron's party teams up with conservatives for regional elections in south

Finns voted in an election on Sunday (April 14) likely to result in a change of government with the Social Democrats returning to power for the first time in 20 years, as voters worry over the future of the country's generous welfare system as the costs of caring for a rapidly ageing population rise.

Voting begins in Finland election likely to see change in government

The two candidates vying to win France&#39;s presidency in the decisive run-off vote on Sunday could scarcely have more different visions of the nation and its place in the world.

Centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron is a 39-year-old former investment banker who embraces globalisation and the European Union.

His far-right rival Marine Le Pen, the scion of the family who founded the anti-immigration National Front (FN) party, champions France-first nationalism and proposes withdrawing from the eurozone.

&quot;I am the candidate of the people of France such as we love it, of the nation that protects jobs, security, our borders,&quot; 48-year-old Le Pen said in a brutal face-to-face TV debate that encapsulated the candidates&#39; differences.&nbsp;

Macron had a starkly different message: &quot;France is not a closed country. I am for a strong France, in an EU that offers it protection,&quot; he said.

His rise has been meteoric. He had never before stood for election but is now on the cusp of becoming France&#39;s youngest-ever president.

Despite his lack of political experience, polls currently suggest he should beat Le Pen by around 20 percentage points.

Sensed a gap

President Francois Hollande launched Macron&#39;s political career, picking the Rothschild banker as an economic advisor and then parachuting him into his Socialist government as economy minister.

Sensing a worldwide shift away from established parties, Macron quit the cabinet last August to concentrate on building his own centrist political movement &quot;En Marche&quot; (On the Move).

He has since attracted over 250,000 members and confounded early critics who said his appeal did not stretch beyond young, urban professionals.

Macron has also flouted convention in his personal life.

From a middle-class family in Amiens, northeast France, he fell for his drama teacher, Brigitte Trogneux, while he was at secondary school.

A 64-year-old mother-of-three, a quarter of a century older than Macron, she left her husband and married him in 2007.

The unshakeable confidence with which Macron pursued his future wife has been evident throughout his career.

But it nearly tripped him up after he finished first in the first round of the election when he gave what many saw as an overly triumphant speech and then threw a party at a Paris bistro.

Opponents and allies alike were quick to remind him that victory over Le Pen was not assured, and he threw himself into campaigning.

A potentially crucial moment came on April 26, when he was at risk of being upstaged by Le Pen at an under-threat Whirlpool dryer factory in Amiens.&nbsp;

After she made a lightning visit, he was forced to go too, plunging into a scrum of workers who initially booed him before he engaged with them for more than an hour.

In an 11th-hour twist to a campaign marked by drama, Macron&#39;s team said it was hit by a &quot;massive&quot; hacking attack after a flood of thousands of internal documents were released online late Friday.

In her blood

Unlike Macron, Le Pen had a front-row seat on the world of hard-edged politics from an early age.

Her pugnacious father Jean-Marie Le Pen reached the run-off of the 2002 presidential election but was soundly beaten by the centre-right Jacques Chirac.

Fifteen years later, his gravel-voiced daughter believes she can become France&#39;s first woman president and the first from the party that her father founded.

She has campaigned on the same nationalist and protectionist themes that carried Donald Trump to the White House and drove Britain&#39;s vote to leave the EU.

But in a bruising TV debate between the two rounds, her strategy of all-out attack on Macron appeared to backfire, as polls suggested viewers found him more convincing.

She goes into the run-off with several investigations hanging over the FN and her entourage for alleged funding scandals.

Le Pen has performed better than during the last presidential election in 2012 when she finished third with just under 18 percent. This time she scored more than 21 percent in the first round.

She has worked assiduously to try to rid the FN of its more extreme edge and make it a &quot;party of patriots&quot; -- and she kicked her father out after he repeatedly described Nazi gas chambers as a &quot;detail of history&quot;.

Now a twice-divorced mother of three, she guards her private life carefully.

She appears rarely as a couple with her current partner, the FN&#39;s vice-president Louis Aliot.

Le Pen developed her flair for sharp putdowns as a state-appointed lawyer defending illegal immigrants facing deportation.

Despite that experience, she blames migration -- and the European Union -- for France&#39;s economic woes.

(AFP)

Centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron is a 39-year-old former investment banker who embraces globalisation and the European Union

The two candidates vying to win France's presidency in the decisive run-off vote on Sunday could scarcely have more different visions of the nation and its place in the world. Centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron is a 39-year-old former investment banker who embraces globalisation and the European Union. His far-right rival Marine Le Pen, the scion of the family who founded the anti-immigration National Front (FN) party, champions France-first nationalism and proposes withdrawing from the eurozone. "I am the candidate of the people of France such as we love it, of the nation that protects jobs, security, our borders," 48-year-old Le Pen said in a brutal face-to-face TV debate that encapsulated the candidates' differences. Macron had a starkly different message: "France is not a closed country. I am for a strong France, in an EU that offers it protection," he said. His rise has been meteoric. He had never before stood for election but is now on the cusp of becoming France's youngest-ever president. Despite his lack of political experience, polls currently suggest he should beat Le Pen by around 20 percentage points. Sensed a gap President Francois Hollande launched Macron's political career, picking the Rothschild banker as an economic advisor and then parachuting him into his Socialist government as economy minister. Sensing a worldwide shift away from established parties, Macron quit the cabinet last August to concentrate on building his own centrist political movement "En Marche" (On the Move). He has since attracted over 250,000 members and confounded early critics who said his appeal did not stretch beyond young, urban professionals. Macron has also flouted convention in his personal life. From a middle-class family in Amiens, northeast France, he fell for his drama teacher, Brigitte Trogneux, while he was at secondary school. A 64-year-old mother-of-three, a quarter of a century older than Macron, she left her husband and married him in 2007. The unshakeable confidence with which Macron pursued his future wife has been evident throughout his career. But it nearly tripped him up after he finished first in the first round of the election when he gave what many saw as an overly triumphant speech and then threw a party at a Paris bistro. Opponents and allies alike were quick to remind him that victory over Le Pen was not assured, and he threw himself into campaigning. A potentially crucial moment came on April 26, when he was at risk of being upstaged by Le Pen at an under-threat Whirlpool dryer factory in Amiens. After she made a lightning visit, he was forced to go too, plunging into a scrum of workers who initially booed him before he engaged with them for more than an hour. In an 11th-hour twist to a campaign marked by drama, Macron's team said it was hit by a "massive" hacking attack after a flood of thousands of internal documents were released online late Friday. In her blood Unlike Macron, Le Pen had a front-row seat on the world of hard-edged politics from an early age. Her pugnacious father Jean-Marie Le Pen reached the run-off of the 2002 presidential election but was soundly beaten by the centre-right Jacques Chirac. Fifteen years later, his gravel-voiced daughter believes she can become France's first woman president and the first from the party that her father founded. She has campaigned on the same nationalist and protectionist themes that carried Donald Trump to the White House and drove Britain's vote to leave the EU. But in a bruising TV debate between the two rounds, her strategy of all-out attack on Macron appeared to backfire, as polls suggested viewers found him more convincing. She goes into the run-off with several investigations hanging over the FN and her entourage for alleged funding scandals. Le Pen has performed better than during the last presidential election in 2012 when she finished third with just under 18 percent. This time she scored more than 21 percent in the first round. She has worked assiduously to try to rid the FN of its more extreme edge and make it a "party of patriots" -- and she kicked her father out after he repeatedly described Nazi gas chambers as a "detail of history". Now a twice-divorced mother of three, she guards her private life carefully. She appears rarely as a couple with her current partner, the FN's vice-president Louis Aliot. Le Pen developed her flair for sharp putdowns as a state-appointed lawyer defending illegal immigrants facing deportation. Despite that experience, she blames migration -- and the European Union -- for France's economic woes. (AFP)

Macron, Le Pen: Clashing visions for France's future

US President Donald Trump on Monday asked France&#39;s envoy to the United Nations about the French presidential elections following a first round of voting at the weekend.

Trump took Ambassador Francois Delattre aside during a meeting of UN Security Council envoys to Washington to ask about the vote that sets up a run-off next month between pro-Europe candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

&quot;He asked me about the elections in France,&quot; Delattre told AFP. &quot;I gave him a review of the situation and put things in perspective.&quot;&nbsp;

Trump last week had expressed support for Le Pen, the leader of the National Front, saying that she was the &quot;strongest on borders&quot; and the &quot;strongest on what&#39;s been going on in France.&quot;

On Monday, French President Francois Hollande urged voters to back Macron, who topped Sunday&#39;s first-round voting with 24 per cent, compared to 21 per cent for Le Pen.

Security Council ambassadors held a working lunch with Trump and meetings in the Oval Office as part of the US presidency of the council in April.

Trump signaled that he was ready to work with the United Nations if the world body shows that it can reform and become more responsive to global crises.

The United States is the biggest contributor to the United Nations, paying 22 percent of the $5.4 billion core budget and 28.5 percent of the $7.9 billion peacekeeping budget.

During his election campaign, Trump dismissed the United Nations as &quot;just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

 
&nbsp;

Trump last week had expressed support for Le Pen, the leader of the National Front, saying that she was the 'strongest on borders'

US President Donald Trump on Monday asked France's envoy to the United Nations about the French presidential elections following a first round of voting at the weekend. Trump took Ambassador Francois Delattre aside during a meeting of UN Security Council envoys to Washington to ask about the vote that sets up a run-off next month between pro-Europe candidate Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen. "He asked me about the elections in France," Delattre told AFP. "I gave him a review of the situation and put things in perspective." Trump last week had expressed support for Le Pen, the leader of the National Front, saying that she was the "strongest on borders" and the "strongest on what's been going on in France." On Monday, French President Francois Hollande urged voters to back Macron, who topped Sunday's first-round voting with 24 per cent, compared to 21 per cent for Le Pen. Security Council ambassadors held a working lunch with Trump and meetings in the Oval Office as part of the US presidency of the council in April. Trump signaled that he was ready to work with the United Nations if the world body shows that it can reform and become more responsive to global crises. The United States is the biggest contributor to the United Nations, paying 22 percent of the $5.4 billion core budget and 28.5 percent of the $7.9 billion peacekeeping budget. During his election campaign, Trump dismissed the United Nations as "just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time." (AFP)

Trump asks French UN envoy about elections

Pro-European Emmanuel Macron is set to face far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in France&#39;s presidential run-off, results showed Sunday, making him clear favourite to emerge as the country&#39;s youngest leader in its history.

Macron topped Sunday&#39;s first round with 23.7 percent of votes, slightly ahead of National Front (FN) leader Le Pen with 21.9 percent, according to near-final results from the interior ministry.

They will contest the run-off on May 7.

&quot;For months and again today I&#39;ve heard the doubts, the anger and the fears of the French people. Their desire for change too,&quot; 39-year-old Macron told thousands of cheering supporters in Paris.

He pledged to unite &quot;patriots&quot; behind his agenda to renew French politics and modernise the country against Le Pen and &quot;the threat of nationalists&quot;.

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The euro rose sharply against the dollar as fears of France pulling out of the single currency and European Union receded following the breakthrough of Macron, former economy minister under outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande.&nbsp;

An ex-investment banker whose marriage to his former school teacher has fascinated France, Macron said the results were a clear rejection of traditional parties.

Neither candidate from the mainstream Republicans and Socialists made it through to the second round for the first time in six decades in a stunning shakeup of national politics.

&quot;The challenge is to break completely with the system which has been unable to find solutions to the problems of our country for more than 30 years,&quot; Macron said, already eyeing crucial parliamentary elections in June.

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.&nbsp;

Le Pen hailed a &quot;historic vote&quot; in front of her supporters, adding: &quot;The first stage has been passed.&quot;

Macron, who had never before stood for election and only started his grassroots centrist movement 12 months ago, will go into the run-off as the clear frontrunner.

New polls released Sunday evening showed pro-business Macron easily beating Le Pen, who has hardened her anti-immigration and anti-Europe rhetoric over the last week.

The French vote was being closely watched as a bellwether for populist sentiment following the election of Donald Trump as US President and Britain&#39;s vote to leave the EU.

Throughout the campaign, Macron insisted France was &quot;contrarian&quot; -- ready to elect a pro-globalisation liberal at a time when rightwing nationalists are making gains around the world.

&quot;It&#39;s a victory for openness, social-mindedness,&quot; Macron supporter Marie-Helene Visconti, a 60-year-old artist, told AFP at his election party where the EU flag was waved alongside the French tricolore.

Le Pen follows father 
Le Pen follows in the footsteps of her father Jean-Marie, who made it through to the 2002 presidential run-off in what came as a political earthquake for France.

Le Pen Senior went on to suffer a stinging defeat when mainstream parties closed ranks to keep him out.

Though Le Pen came in behind Macron, there was joy at the FN&#39;s election party in Henin-Beaumont, a former coal mining town in northern France, with outbursts of the Marseillaise national anthem.

Le Pen said the second round would be a battle over France&#39;s future, with her vision of a France out of the EU and behind reinforced borders radically different from her opponent&#39;s.

&quot;The major issue of this election is runaway globalisation, which is putting our civilisation in danger,&quot; she told supporters.&nbsp;

&quot;Either we continue on the path of complete deregulation, with no borders and no protection... mass immigration and free movement of terrorists... or you choose France,&quot; she added.&nbsp;

Far-right expert Nonna Mayer at Sciences Po university said a Le Pen victory was not impossible, &quot;but it seems unlikely that she will carry the second round&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;If she wins, it will obviously be an anti-Europe, protectionist, exclusionist line that wins and which could have troubling consequences for Europe and France,&quot; she added.

Despite Macron&#39;s plans to &quot;relaunch the building of Europe&quot;, the combined scores of staunch eurosceptics Le Pen, far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon and nationalist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan add up to nearly 50 percent.&nbsp;

European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on Sunday congratulated Macron and wished him &quot;good luck&quot;.&nbsp;

Macron endorsements 
Macron also drew immediate support from his defeated rivals from the Socialists and Republicans.

Socialist Benoit Hamon, projected to win a humiliating six percent, said the left had suffered a &quot;historic drubbing&quot; but urged voters to keep out Le Pen who he said was &quot;an enemy of the republic&quot;.&nbsp;

Scandal-hit Republicans candidate Francois Fillon followed suit, saying: &quot;There is no other choice than voting against the far-right.&quot;

Fillon was seen as a favourite until January when his campaign was torpedoed by allegations that he gave his British-born wife a fictitious job as his parliamentary assistant.

He was on course Sunday to score 20 percent.

The former prime minister has accused Hollande of being behind a campaign to destabilise him and said in a concession speech the obstacles he had faced were &quot;too numerous, too cruel&quot;.

Support for Communist-backed Melenchon, meanwhile, had surged in recent weeks on the back of assured performances in two televised debates.

He was on course for around 19.2 percent of the vote, underlining the strength of anti-establishment sentiment.

High security

The vote took place under heavy security after Thursday&#39;s killing of a policeman on Paris&#39;s Champs-Elysees avenue claimed by the Islamic State group.

With France still under the state of emergency imposed after the Paris attacks of November 2015, around 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers were deployed to guard voters.

Thursday&#39;s shooting was the latest in a bloody series of attacks that have cost more than 230 lives since 2015.

Nearly 47 million people were eligible to vote in the eurozone&#39;s second biggest economy and turnout was forecast to be high at around 80 percent. The results will be seen as a credit to French pollsters, who successfully forecast the results.

(AFP)

The centrist Macron topped Sunday's first round with 23.7% of votes, slightly ahead of the far-right Le Pen with 21.9%

Pro-European Emmanuel Macron is set to face far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in France's presidential run-off, results showed Sunday, making him clear favourite to emerge as the country's youngest leader in its history. Macron topped Sunday's first round with 23.7 percent of votes, slightly ahead of National Front (FN) leader Le Pen with 21.9 percent, according to near-final results from the interior ministry. They will contest the run-off on May 7. "For months and again today I've heard the doubts, the anger and the fears of the French people. Their desire for change too," 39-year-old Macron told thousands of cheering supporters in Paris. He pledged to unite "patriots" behind his agenda to renew French politics and modernise the country against Le Pen and "the threat of nationalists". Macron pledged to unite 'patriots' behind his agenda to renew French politics and modernise the country against Le Pen and 'the threat of nationalists' × The euro rose sharply against the dollar as fears of France pulling out of the single currency and European Union receded following the breakthrough of Macron, former economy minister under outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande. An ex-investment banker whose marriage to his former school teacher has fascinated France, Macron said the results were a clear rejection of traditional parties. Neither candidate from the mainstream Republicans and Socialists made it through to the second round for the first time in six decades in a stunning shakeup of national politics. "The challenge is to break completely with the system which has been unable to find solutions to the problems of our country for more than 30 years," Macron said, already eyeing crucial parliamentary elections in June. 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. Le Pen hailed a "historic vote" in front of her supporters, adding: "The first stage has been passed." Macron, who had never before stood for election and only started his grassroots centrist movement 12 months ago, will go into the run-off as the clear frontrunner. New polls released Sunday evening showed pro-business Macron easily beating Le Pen, who has hardened her anti-immigration and anti-Europe rhetoric over the last week. The French vote was being closely watched as a bellwether for populist sentiment following the election of Donald Trump as US President and Britain's vote to leave the EU. Throughout the campaign, Macron insisted France was "contrarian" -- ready to elect a pro-globalisation liberal at a time when rightwing nationalists are making gains around the world. "It's a victory for openness, social-mindedness," Macron supporter Marie-Helene Visconti, a 60-year-old artist, told AFP at his election party where the EU flag was waved alongside the French tricolore. Le Pen follows father Le Pen follows in the footsteps of her father Jean-Marie, who made it through to the 2002 presidential run-off in what came as a political earthquake for France. Le Pen Senior went on to suffer a stinging defeat when mainstream parties closed ranks to keep him out. Though Le Pen came in behind Macron, there was joy at the FN's election party in Henin-Beaumont, a former coal mining town in northern France, with outbursts of the Marseillaise national anthem. Le Pen said the second round would be a battle over France's future, with her vision of a France out of the EU and behind reinforced borders radically different from her opponent's. "The major issue of this election is runaway globalisation, which is putting our civilisation in danger," she told supporters. "Either we continue on the path of complete deregulation, with no borders and no protection... mass immigration and free movement of terrorists... or you choose France," she added. Far-right expert Nonna Mayer at Sciences Po university said a Le Pen victory was not impossible, "but it seems unlikely that she will carry the second round". "If she wins, it will obviously be an anti-Europe, protectionist, exclusionist line that wins and which could have troubling consequences for Europe and France," she added. Despite Macron's plans to "relaunch the building of Europe", the combined scores of staunch eurosceptics Le Pen, far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon and nationalist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan add up to nearly 50 percent. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker on Sunday congratulated Macron and wished him "good luck". Macron endorsements Macron also drew immediate support from his defeated rivals from the Socialists and Republicans. Socialist Benoit Hamon, projected to win a humiliating six percent, said the left had suffered a "historic drubbing" but urged voters to keep out Le Pen who he said was "an enemy of the republic". Scandal-hit Republicans candidate Francois Fillon followed suit, saying: "There is no other choice than voting against the far-right." Fillon was seen as a favourite until January when his campaign was torpedoed by allegations that he gave his British-born wife a fictitious job as his parliamentary assistant. He was on course Sunday to score 20 percent. The former prime minister has accused Hollande of being behind a campaign to destabilise him and said in a concession speech the obstacles he had faced were "too numerous, too cruel". Support for Communist-backed Melenchon, meanwhile, had surged in recent weeks on the back of assured performances in two televised debates. He was on course for around 19.2 percent of the vote, underlining the strength of anti-establishment sentiment. High security The vote took place under heavy security after Thursday's killing of a policeman on Paris's Champs-Elysees avenue claimed by the Islamic State group. With France still under the state of emergency imposed after the Paris attacks of November 2015, around 50,000 police and 7,000 soldiers were deployed to guard voters. Thursday's shooting was the latest in a bloody series of attacks that have cost more than 230 lives since 2015. Nearly 47 million people were eligible to vote in the eurozone's second biggest economy and turnout was forecast to be high at around 80 percent. The results will be seen as a credit to French pollsters, who successfully forecast the results. (AFP)

French election: Macron, Le Pen to contest May 7 run-off

French authorities found guns and bomb-making materials Tuesday after the arrest of two men suspected of plotting an &quot;imminent&quot; attack just days before presidential polls, sources close to the probe said.

The items were discovered during searches in the southern city of Marseille after the suspects -- &quot;radicalised&quot; Frenchmen aged 23 and 29 -- were taken into custody, sources said.

The sources asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

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<h5>Interior Minister Matthias Fekl said the attack was to be carried out in the &quot;next few days&quot; as France gears up to vote on Sunday in the first round of a two-stage presidential election.</h5>
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Last week, photos of the two suspects were distributed to the security teams for far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron.

&quot;The photos were passed to my security service from Thursday,&quot; Le Pen told AFP, while an aide to Macron also confirmed his campaign team received the pictures.

Conservative candidate Francois Fillon was warned about the danger on Friday, an aide said.

France has been on high alert for more than two years following a string of terror attacks which began in January 2015, killing more than 230 people.

Polls have shown that voters are more concerned about unemployment and their spending power than terrorism or security, though analysts warn that concerns could change quickly in the event of further bloodshed.

(AFP)

Guns and bomb-making materials were discovered during searches in Marseille after the suspects were taken into custody, sources said

French authorities found guns and bomb-making materials Tuesday after the arrest of two men suspected of plotting an "imminent" attack just days before presidential polls, sources close to the probe said. The items were discovered during searches in the southern city of Marseille after the suspects -- "radicalised" Frenchmen aged 23 and 29 -- were taken into custody, sources said. The sources asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly. Interior Minister Matthias Fekl said the attack was to be carried out in the "next few days" as France gears up to vote on Sunday in the first round of a two-stage presidential election. × Last week, photos of the two suspects were distributed to the security teams for far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron. "The photos were passed to my security service from Thursday," Le Pen told AFP, while an aide to Macron also confirmed his campaign team received the pictures. Conservative candidate Francois Fillon was warned about the danger on Friday, an aide said. France has been on high alert for more than two years following a string of terror attacks which began in January 2015, killing more than 230 people. Polls have shown that voters are more concerned about unemployment and their spending power than terrorism or security, though analysts warn that concerns could change quickly in the event of further bloodshed. (AFP)

Weapons found after two men arrested over terror plot in France

With neither the mainstream left nor right tipped to win the French presidency, this year&#39;s election could end a lock on power that has defined the country&#39;s politics for decades.

Surveys show voters are fed up with a political class seemingly incapable of solving the problem of high unemployment and low growth amid widespread fears about the impact of globalisation.

Only 17 per cent of those questioned in an Ipsos poll last month gave high marks to France&#39;s democratic system.

This general malaise finds the two big traditional parties -- Socialists on the left and Republicans on the right -- struggling for positives as the election clock ticks down.

Instead, the centre and the far right are seen as frontrunners, with their candidates expected to lead the pack in the April 23 first round to qualify for the run-off vote on May 7.

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<h5>Current polls show that NF leader Marine Le Pen, 48, and centrist Emmanuel Macron, a 39-year-old former Socialist minister who founded his own movement last year, will duel in May&#39;s final vote</h5>
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France is &quot;coming to the end of a political order that started in the 1980s&quot;, said political scientist and pollster Jerome Sainte-Marie.

Over this time, the reins passed back and forth between the Socialists and the Republicans (previously known as the UMP), with the far-right National Front (NF) looking on from the sidelines.

But with each swing of the pendulum, real change has become increasingly elusive, &quot;alongside a growing exasperation in the face of the economic crisis&quot;, Sainte-Marie said.

Current polls show that NF leader Marine Le Pen, 48, and centrist Emmanuel Macron, a 39-year-old former Socialist minister who founded his own movement last year, will duel in May&#39;s final vote.

&#39;Failed recipes&#39;

As well as a prevailing mood of disillusionment, which reflects longstanding trends showing the French are worried about the direction of their country, there are also short-term reasons to explain the possible shift.

The Socialists are deeply divided after the unpopular five-year term of incumbent President Francois Hollande and struggling to rally voters around their candidate, the former education minister Benoit Hamon.

Despite being picked in a primary vote in January by party activists, Hamon&#39;s economic programme and tax-and-spend proposals are divisive: popular with left-wingers but seen as making him unelectable by others.

Communist-backed candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who rejected an alliance with Hamon, is also threatening to split their vote. He enjoys about 10 percent support, according to surveys.

Most importantly, the Republicans&#39; candidate Francois Fillon, the clear frontrunner until the end of January to be president is mired in a fake jobs scandal.

He was charged with several offences including the misuse of public money on Tuesday after employing his wife in parliament but has insisted on staying in the race.

The scandal has upended the campaign and has provided an opening for the energetic Macron.

&quot;Their recipes have simply failed,&quot; argues the centrist, economically liberal and pro-European Macron, who says he wants to lift up a middle class that has been &quot;neglected&quot; by both the left and the right.

Globalisation v &#39;losing out&#39;&nbsp;

Meanwhile Le Pen, the anti-immigration, anti-EU candidate, scores points by railing against the establishment &quot;elites&quot;.

The rhetoric of the NF does not come in a vacuum but on the heels of Britain&#39;s shock vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump&#39;s stunning US election win.

Unlike Fillon, who has had to battle to stay in the race, Le Pen has carried on unscathed despite her own fake jobs scandal as an MEP.

A recent survey found more than one in three respondents -- 36 percent -- think Le Pen has new ideas for solving France&#39;s problems.

&quot;We are seeing a democratic shift in France and the world... towards populist culture and the collapse of the culture of parties,&quot; historian Pierre Rosanvallon wrote in the centre-left daily Le Monde.

The new rift, according to Sainte Marie, will be between those who are benefiting from globalisation and &quot;those who feel they are losing out&quot;.

This is Le Pen&#39;s analysis too, with her party saying Macron, a millionaire former investment banker is the perfect opponent as they seek to make the election a battle between &quot;patriots&quot; and &quot;globalists&quot;.

(AFP)

The Socialists on the left and the Republicans on the right have always been the two big parties, but perhaps not in this year's election

With neither the mainstream left nor right tipped to win the French presidency, this year's election could end a lock on power that has defined the country's politics for decades. Surveys show voters are fed up with a political class seemingly incapable of solving the problem of high unemployment and low growth amid widespread fears about the impact of globalisation. Only 17 per cent of those questioned in an Ipsos poll last month gave high marks to France's democratic system. This general malaise finds the two big traditional parties -- Socialists on the left and Republicans on the right -- struggling for positives as the election clock ticks down. Instead, the centre and the far right are seen as frontrunners, with their candidates expected to lead the pack in the April 23 first round to qualify for the run-off vote on May 7. Current polls show that NF leader Marine Le Pen, 48, and centrist Emmanuel Macron, a 39-year-old former Socialist minister who founded his own movement last year, will duel in May's final vote × France is "coming to the end of a political order that started in the 1980s", said political scientist and pollster Jerome Sainte-Marie. Over this time, the reins passed back and forth between the Socialists and the Republicans (previously known as the UMP), with the far-right National Front (NF) looking on from the sidelines. But with each swing of the pendulum, real change has become increasingly elusive, "alongside a growing exasperation in the face of the economic crisis", Sainte-Marie said. Current polls show that NF leader Marine Le Pen, 48, and centrist Emmanuel Macron, a 39-year-old former Socialist minister who founded his own movement last year, will duel in May's final vote. 'Failed recipes' As well as a prevailing mood of disillusionment, which reflects longstanding trends showing the French are worried about the direction of their country, there are also short-term reasons to explain the possible shift. The Socialists are deeply divided after the unpopular five-year term of incumbent President Francois Hollande and struggling to rally voters around their candidate, the former education minister Benoit Hamon. Despite being picked in a primary vote in January by party activists, Hamon's economic programme and tax-and-spend proposals are divisive: popular with left-wingers but seen as making him unelectable by others. Communist-backed candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who rejected an alliance with Hamon, is also threatening to split their vote. He enjoys about 10 percent support, according to surveys. Most importantly, the Republicans' candidate Francois Fillon, the clear frontrunner until the end of January to be president is mired in a fake jobs scandal. He was charged with several offences including the misuse of public money on Tuesday after employing his wife in parliament but has insisted on staying in the race. The scandal has upended the campaign and has provided an opening for the energetic Macron. "Their recipes have simply failed," argues the centrist, economically liberal and pro-European Macron, who says he wants to lift up a middle class that has been "neglected" by both the left and the right. Globalisation v 'losing out' Meanwhile Le Pen, the anti-immigration, anti-EU candidate, scores points by railing against the establishment "elites". The rhetoric of the NF does not come in a vacuum but on the heels of Britain's shock vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump's stunning US election win. Unlike Fillon, who has had to battle to stay in the race, Le Pen has carried on unscathed despite her own fake jobs scandal as an MEP. A recent survey found more than one in three respondents -- 36 percent -- think Le Pen has new ideas for solving France's problems. "We are seeing a democratic shift in France and the world... towards populist culture and the collapse of the culture of parties," historian Pierre Rosanvallon wrote in the centre-left daily Le Monde. The new rift, according to Sainte Marie, will be between those who are benefiting from globalisation and "those who feel they are losing out". This is Le Pen's analysis too, with her party saying Macron, a millionaire former investment banker is the perfect opponent as they seek to make the election a battle between "patriots" and "globalists". (AFP)

Game over for France's traditional left and right?

France&#39;s rightwing presidential candidate Francois&nbsp;Fillon&nbsp;was charged Tuesday with several offences over a fake jobs scandal, including misuse of public funds, his lawyer said.

&quot;He was charged this morning. The hearing was brought forward so that it could take place in a calm manner,&quot; lawyer Antonin Levy told AFP.

He was also charged with misuse of corporate assets, Levy said.

Fillon, 63, had been expected to go before investigating magistrates on Wednesday over the scandal, which has undermined his campaign for the presidency only six weeks from the first round of the election.

Following revelations in the Canard Enchaine newspaper at the end of January, the conservative candidate admitted to employing his wife Penelope and two of their children as parliamentary assistants, but has denied any wrongdoing.&nbsp;

Penelope was paid hundreds of thousands of euros (dollars) from public funds between 1986 and 2013, but she is accused of doing little work for the salary.&nbsp;

From May 2012 to December 2013, while employed at the parliament, Penelope was also paid 3,500 euros ($3,700) a month by a magazine owned by a friend of&nbsp;Fillon, the tycoon Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere.

After initially saying he would withdraw from the presidential race if charged,&nbsp;Fillon&nbsp;has vowed to continue, calling the investigation an attempted &quot;political assassination&quot;.&nbsp;

Defies calls to step aside&nbsp;

He has defied calls to step aside from colleagues in his Republicans party and has weathered a flurry of resignations from his campaign team, while the scandal has made an already unpredictable election even harder to call.&nbsp;

The disarray appears to have benefited centrist, pro-business candidate Emmanuel Macron in particular, as well as far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who are shown in opinion polls to be the likely top two candidates in the first round of voting on April 23.

Polls suggest 39-year-old Macron would beat Le Pen in the decisive second round on May 7 -- but after Donald Trump&#39;s victory in the United States and Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union, analysts caution against bold predictions.

Fillon, a devout Catholic, was the surprise winner of the Republicans&#39; primary in November after campaigning as a clean and honest candidate who would transform France with a &quot;radical&quot; economic programme.

He wants to cut public spending by 100 billion euros and cut 500,000 public sector jobs over the next five years.

He was the frontrunner in the presidential race before the scandal hit in late January, but is now shown in third place and eliminated in the first round.

(AFP)

French presidential candidate Francois Fillon has been accused of using state money to give jobs to his wife & children

France's rightwing presidential candidate Francois Fillon was charged Tuesday with several offences over a fake jobs scandal, including misuse of public funds, his lawyer said. "He was charged this morning. The hearing was brought forward so that it could take place in a calm manner," lawyer Antonin Levy told AFP. He was also charged with misuse of corporate assets, Levy said. Fillon, 63, had been expected to go before investigating magistrates on Wednesday over the scandal, which has undermined his campaign for the presidency only six weeks from the first round of the election. Following revelations in the Canard Enchaine newspaper at the end of January, the conservative candidate admitted to employing his wife Penelope and two of their children as parliamentary assistants, but has denied any wrongdoing. Penelope was paid hundreds of thousands of euros (dollars) from public funds between 1986 and 2013, but she is accused of doing little work for the salary. From May 2012 to December 2013, while employed at the parliament, Penelope was also paid 3,500 euros ($3,700) a month by a magazine owned by a friend of Fillon, the tycoon Marc Ladreit de Lacharriere. After initially saying he would withdraw from the presidential race if charged, Fillon has vowed to continue, calling the investigation an attempted "political assassination". Defies calls to step aside He has defied calls to step aside from colleagues in his Republicans party and has weathered a flurry of resignations from his campaign team, while the scandal has made an already unpredictable election even harder to call. The disarray appears to have benefited centrist, pro-business candidate Emmanuel Macron in particular, as well as far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who are shown in opinion polls to be the likely top two candidates in the first round of voting on April 23. Polls suggest 39-year-old Macron would beat Le Pen in the decisive second round on May 7 -- but after Donald Trump's victory in the United States and Britain's vote to leave the European Union, analysts caution against bold predictions. Fillon, a devout Catholic, was the surprise winner of the Republicans' primary in November after campaigning as a clean and honest candidate who would transform France with a "radical" economic programme. He wants to cut public spending by 100 billion euros and cut 500,000 public sector jobs over the next five years. He was the frontrunner in the presidential race before the scandal hit in late January, but is now shown in third place and eliminated in the first round. (AFP)

France's Fillon charged for misuse of public funds: Lawyer

Asian share markets retreated on Wednesday and the Euro was pressured as doubts over the policies of US President Donald Trump and an election looming in France sapped investor confidence.

MSCI&#39;s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked down 0.3 per cent, slipping further from Monday&#39;s four-month high, led by 0.9 per cent fall in South Korean shares. Japan&#39;s Nikkei slipped 0.2 per cent.

&quot;The markets are now paying attention to political risks in Europe and the United States, after a rally earlier this week following the strong US payrolls data,&quot; said Kenta Tadaide, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute.

On Wall Street, the S&amp;P 500 ended barely higher while the Nasdaq edged to a record high as gains in big tech names countered energy declines. With more than half of the S&amp;P 500 having reported results, fourth-quarter earnings are on track to have climbed 8.2 per cent, which would be the best performance since the third quarter of 2014, according to Thomson Reuters.

A raft of strong global economic data and hopes that Trump&#39;s talk of economic stimulus measures had helped to support world share markets, and the dollar, since late last year. But the lack of detail on Trump&#39;s stimulus plans and some other policy stances taken after he was sworn in on January 20 have unsettled investors.

Trump&#39;s protectionist leanings on international trade and controversy over his move to temporarily ban the entry of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries have caused alarm. &quot;Corporate earnings have been pretty good so far. But without details of Trump&#39;s economic policies, it is hard to become bullish,&quot; said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management.

Uncertainty on the new administration&#39;s currency policy is also keeping foreign exchange markets on edge. The dollar has been steadily declining against the yen since Trump signalled displeasure with Japan&#39;s currency stance on January 31.

The US&nbsp;currency traded at 112.35 Yen, having fallen to 111.59 Yen on Tuesday, its lowest since late November. The pair may see limited moves for now as traders look to a meeting between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.

The Euro, on the other hand, shed 0.6 per cent on Tuesday and last stood at $1.0682, hit by rising concerns that the far right could win France&#39;s presidential vote and take the country out of the Euro. The gap between French and German 10-year borrowing costs widened to 78 basis points, the biggest level since late 2012.

Support for conservative challenger Francois Fillon, who was seen as a frontrunner a few weeks ago, has tumbled in the wake of a financial scandal, losing ground to independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and the anti-EU National Front leader Marine Le Pen.

&nbsp;

While most investors expect Le Pen to be defeated in the run-off by a more moderate candidate, markets are nervous after last year&#39;s experience of the Brexit referendum and Trump&#39;s victory.

In addition, wrangling over Greece&#39;s bailout are starting to haunt the market ahead of the euro group meeting on February 20, with two-year Greek debt yield soaring to near 10 percent on Tuesday, compared to around six percent just about two weeks ago.

Elsewhere, the Chinese Yuan dipped slightly following Tuesday&#39;s data that showed China&#39;s foreign exchange reserves unexpectedly fell below the closely watched $3 trillion level in January for the first time in nearly six years. Still, the market impact was limited as the fall in the reserves, of $12.3 billion to $2.998 trillion, was the smallest in seven months, indicating China&#39;s renewed crackdown on outflows appears to be working, at least for now.

The Yuan was little changed after dipping to a&nbsp;one-week low of 6.847 per dollar in offshore trade and three-week low of 6.8916 in the onshore trade. &quot;The fall was relatively small and had limited impact on the mainland markets. It is not like we have seen massive capital outflows,&quot; said Naoki Tashiro, head of TS China Research.

Oil prices extended falls, as a massive increase in US&nbsp;fuel inventories and a slump in Chinese demand implied that global crude markets remain oversupplied despite OPEC-led efforts to cut output. International Brent crude futures fell 0.9 per cent to $54.55 per barrel. They were down 4.0 per cent so far this week.

(Reuters)

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked down 0.3%, slipping further from Monday's four-month high

Asian share markets retreated on Wednesday and the Euro was pressured as doubts over the policies of US President Donald Trump and an election looming in France sapped investor confidence. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked down 0.3 per cent, slipping further from Monday's four-month high, led by 0.9 per cent fall in South Korean shares. Japan's Nikkei slipped 0.2 per cent. "The markets are now paying attention to political risks in Europe and the United States, after a rally earlier this week following the strong US payrolls data," said Kenta Tadaide, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 ended barely higher while the Nasdaq edged to a record high as gains in big tech names countered energy declines. With more than half of the S&P 500 having reported results, fourth-quarter earnings are on track to have climbed 8.2 per cent, which would be the best performance since the third quarter of 2014, according to Thomson Reuters. A raft of strong global economic data and hopes that Trump's talk of economic stimulus measures had helped to support world share markets, and the dollar, since late last year. But the lack of detail on Trump's stimulus plans and some other policy stances taken after he was sworn in on January 20 have unsettled investors. Trump's protectionist leanings on international trade and controversy over his move to temporarily ban the entry of immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries have caused alarm. "Corporate earnings have been pretty good so far. But without details of Trump's economic policies, it is hard to become bullish," said Masahiro Ichikawa, senior strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui Asset Management. Uncertainty on the new administration's currency policy is also keeping foreign exchange markets on edge. The dollar has been steadily declining against the yen since Trump signalled displeasure with Japan's currency stance on January 31. The US currency traded at 112.35 Yen, having fallen to 111.59 Yen on Tuesday, its lowest since late November. The pair may see limited moves for now as traders look to a meeting between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday. The Euro, on the other hand, shed 0.6 per cent on Tuesday and last stood at $1.0682, hit by rising concerns that the far right could win France's presidential vote and take the country out of the Euro. The gap between French and German 10-year borrowing costs widened to 78 basis points, the biggest level since late 2012. Support for conservative challenger Francois Fillon, who was seen as a frontrunner a few weeks ago, has tumbled in the wake of a financial scandal, losing ground to independent centrist Emmanuel Macron and the anti-EU National Front leader Marine Le Pen. While most investors expect Le Pen to be defeated in the run-off by a more moderate candidate, markets are nervous after last year's experience of the Brexit referendum and Trump's victory. In addition, wrangling over Greece's bailout are starting to haunt the market ahead of the euro group meeting on February 20, with two-year Greek debt yield soaring to near 10 percent on Tuesday, compared to around six percent just about two weeks ago. Elsewhere, the Chinese Yuan dipped slightly following Tuesday's data that showed China's foreign exchange reserves unexpectedly fell below the closely watched $3 trillion level in January for the first time in nearly six years. Still, the market impact was limited as the fall in the reserves, of $12.3 billion to $2.998 trillion, was the smallest in seven months, indicating China's renewed crackdown on outflows appears to be working, at least for now. The Yuan was little changed after dipping to a one-week low of 6.847 per dollar in offshore trade and three-week low of 6.8916 in the onshore trade. "The fall was relatively small and had limited impact on the mainland markets. It is not like we have seen massive capital outflows," said Naoki Tashiro, head of TS China Research. Oil prices extended falls, as a massive increase in US fuel inventories and a slump in Chinese demand implied that global crude markets remain oversupplied despite OPEC-led efforts to cut output. International Brent crude futures fell 0.9 per cent to $54.55 per barrel. They were down 4.0 per cent so far this week. (Reuters)

Asia shares down, Euro pressured by doubts over Trump's policies, French election

France&#39;s right-wing presidential candidate Francois Fillon apologised Monday over the fake job affair involving his wife, a controversy&nbsp;that has damaged his reputation and has crashed his ratings to an all-time low.

Fillon, who was the frontrunner for the French May 7 runoffs, sought to draw a line under the scandal, saying: &quot;It was an error, I profoundly regret it and I apologise to the French people.&quot;

Fillon found himself in the storm of a controversy when it emerged that his British-born wife Penelope was paid over 800,000 euros ($860,000) for being his parliamentary aide.

The conservative candidate had also&nbsp;used funds available to lawmakers to hire two of his children, paying them 84,000 euros ($91,000) pre-tax between 2005 and 2007.

The former prime minister, 62, said he had hired family members -- as allowed in France -- out of &quot;trust&quot; but recognised that such practises &quot;create distrust nowadays&quot;.

Although Fillon says his wife was paid to manage his local meetings when he was a lawmaker, Penelope in an interview in 2007 said&nbsp;she had &quot;never been actually his assistant or anything like that.&quot;

But the 62-year-old former prime minister rejected calls of his ouster, saying he wanted to turn a fresh page in his presidential bid.&nbsp;

&quot;From tonight, I announce here that it&#39;s a new campaign that&#39;s starting.&quot;

&quot;I am a candidate for the presidency to win it,&quot; he added.

France goes to the polls in April and May for a two-round presidential election.&nbsp;

Fillon, a devout Catholic who won the nomination of the Republicans party in November on a pledge to slash public spending, had been the frontrunner until two weeks ago.

Polls now show him possibly crashing out of the first round in April, likely leaving far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and rising star Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, to battle it out in May&#39;s runoff vote.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The conservative candidate has been accused of paying his wife over 800,000 euros for being his parliamentary aide

France's right-wing presidential candidate Francois Fillon apologised Monday over the fake job affair involving his wife, a controversy that has damaged his reputation and has crashed his ratings to an all-time low. Fillon, who was the frontrunner for the French May 7 runoffs, sought to draw a line under the scandal, saying: "It was an error, I profoundly regret it and I apologise to the French people." Fillon found himself in the storm of a controversy when it emerged that his British-born wife Penelope was paid over 800,000 euros ($860,000) for being his parliamentary aide. The conservative candidate had also used funds available to lawmakers to hire two of his children, paying them 84,000 euros ($91,000) pre-tax between 2005 and 2007. The former prime minister, 62, said he had hired family members -- as allowed in France -- out of "trust" but recognised that such practises "create distrust nowadays". Although Fillon says his wife was paid to manage his local meetings when he was a lawmaker, Penelope in an interview in 2007 said she had "never been actually his assistant or anything like that." But the 62-year-old former prime minister rejected calls of his ouster, saying he wanted to turn a fresh page in his presidential bid. "From tonight, I announce here that it's a new campaign that's starting." "I am a candidate for the presidency to win it," he added. France goes to the polls in April and May for a two-round presidential election. Fillon, a devout Catholic who won the nomination of the Republicans party in November on a pledge to slash public spending, had been the frontrunner until two weeks ago. Polls now show him possibly crashing out of the first round in April, likely leaving far-right candidate Marine Le Pen and rising star Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, to battle it out in May's runoff vote. (WION with inputs from AFP)

France's presidential candidate Fillon sorry about fake job affair

France&#39;s far-right leader Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campain on Sunday by promising to reject the tenets of mainstream politics and quit the eurozone.

Le Pen has also vowed to impose heavier taxes on foreign workers and remove red-tape in small firms, themes that has catapulted the eurosceptic as one of the likely winners in this year&#39;s elections in France.

Although polls show her in second place behind the centrist former banker&nbsp;Emmanuel Macron, the recent attack on a soldier near Louvre Museum has fuelled her presidential bid as one of her 144 &quot;commitments&quot; to the nation is also about arming the police &quot;massively&quot; to thwart terrorist action.

Le Pen, trotting her trump card of exiting Europe, said that she would hold a referendum if other European partners refuse to agree with her decision of quitting the eurozone.

She spoke about seeing her country not lose its identity by the influx of immigrants and refugees, and a state with its own borders.

Le Pen has previously spoken about her consternation related to immigrants and refugess, saying their presence was not only a dilution of French values but also risked the possibility of terror attacks in the country.

The 48-year-old leader of the National Front (FN) favours an overhauled European Union without a single currency.&nbsp;

Le Pen has also benefitted from the scandal that has rocked her conservative rival Francois&nbsp;Fillon, who was widely tipped to win the May 7 runoffs.

Fillon has been swamped with allegations&nbsp;about&nbsp;his wife Penelope earning more than 800,000 euros ($860,000) as a parliamentary aide without apparently ever working in the National Assembly building.

He also allegedly helped his children earn an additional&nbsp;84,000 euros working as parliamentary aides.

Le Pen hopes to capitalise on the same rejection of mainstream politics that helped the Brexit camp win in Britain and swept Donald Trump to the US presidency.

She has worked to rid the FN of its more extremist, anti-Semitic fringe since taking over from her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who has repeatedly referred to the Nazi gas chambers as a &quot;detail&quot; of history.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

The far-right leader has vowed to exit the eurozone and impose higher taxes on foreign workers

France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campain on Sunday by promising to reject the tenets of mainstream politics and quit the eurozone. Le Pen has also vowed to impose heavier taxes on foreign workers and remove red-tape in small firms, themes that has catapulted the eurosceptic as one of the likely winners in this year's elections in France. Although polls show her in second place behind the centrist former banker Emmanuel Macron, the recent attack on a soldier near Louvre Museum has fuelled her presidential bid as one of her 144 "commitments" to the nation is also about arming the police "massively" to thwart terrorist action. Le Pen, trotting her trump card of exiting Europe, said that she would hold a referendum if other European partners refuse to agree with her decision of quitting the eurozone. She spoke about seeing her country not lose its identity by the influx of immigrants and refugees, and a state with its own borders. Le Pen has previously spoken about her consternation related to immigrants and refugess, saying their presence was not only a dilution of French values but also risked the possibility of terror attacks in the country. The 48-year-old leader of the National Front (FN) favours an overhauled European Union without a single currency. Le Pen has also benefitted from the scandal that has rocked her conservative rival Francois Fillon, who was widely tipped to win the May 7 runoffs. Fillon has been swamped with allegations about his wife Penelope earning more than 800,000 euros ($860,000) as a parliamentary aide without apparently ever working in the National Assembly building. He also allegedly helped his children earn an additional 84,000 euros working as parliamentary aides. Le Pen hopes to capitalise on the same rejection of mainstream politics that helped the Brexit camp win in Britain and swept Donald Trump to the US presidency. She has worked to rid the FN of its more extremist, anti-Semitic fringe since taking over from her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, who has repeatedly referred to the Nazi gas chambers as a "detail" of history. (WION with inputs from AFP)

France's Le Pen launches presidential campaign with anti-EU rhetoric

The European Parliament will shortly begin taking money from the salary of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to recover funds paid to a party assistant, a parliamentary source said Wednesday.

Le Pen, one of the front-runners in upcoming French presidential polls, had until midnight Tuesday to repay nearly 300,000 euros ($325,000) but she bluntly rejected the demand just before the deadline.

The European Parliament says Le Pen, who is also an MEP as well as leader of France&#39;s National Front, incorrectly used the funds to pay an aide, Catherine Griset, who was based at the party&#39;s headquarters in Paris and not at the assembly, which meets in both Brussels and Strasbourg, eastern France.

The parliamentary source in Brussels, who asked not to be named, said the aim was not to punish Le Pen but to recover the funds involved.

Le Pen and her representatives had had &quot;many occasions&quot; to explain her position, the source said.

MEP salaries are paid on the 15th of each month, so the procedure could begin shortly, the source said, adding that it could amount to 8,000 euros per month when other parliamentary payments are included.

The source said parliament believes this is the normal procedure in such cases.

Griset was employed by the National Front as an &quot;accredited assistant&quot; between 2010 and 2016.

The European Parliament is also looking into more than 41,500 euros paid to Thierry Legier, who is Le Pen&#39;s bodyguard.&nbsp;

Le Pen told AFP Tuesday she had never received the money and compared the case with allegations that her conservative challenger in the presidential election, Francois Fillon, paid his wife and children around 900,000 euros for &quot;fake jobs&quot; as parliamentary assistants.

&quot;To repay the money, I would have had to receive it in the first place, but I am not Francois Fillon,&quot; she said.

&quot;Furthermore, I formally contest this unilateral and illegal decision,&quot; Le Pen added.

National Front treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just confirmed Tuesday that Le Pen had refused to repay the funds. 
 
(AFP)

Le Pen had until midnight Tuesday to repay $325,000 taken from EU funds but she bluntly rejected the demand

The European Parliament will shortly begin taking money from the salary of French far-right leader Marine Le Pen to recover funds paid to a party assistant, a parliamentary source said Wednesday. Le Pen, one of the front-runners in upcoming French presidential polls, had until midnight Tuesday to repay nearly 300,000 euros ($325,000) but she bluntly rejected the demand just before the deadline. The European Parliament says Le Pen, who is also an MEP as well as leader of France's National Front, incorrectly used the funds to pay an aide, Catherine Griset, who was based at the party's headquarters in Paris and not at the assembly, which meets in both Brussels and Strasbourg, eastern France. The parliamentary source in Brussels, who asked not to be named, said the aim was not to punish Le Pen but to recover the funds involved. Le Pen and her representatives had had "many occasions" to explain her position, the source said. MEP salaries are paid on the 15th of each month, so the procedure could begin shortly, the source said, adding that it could amount to 8,000 euros per month when other parliamentary payments are included. The source said parliament believes this is the normal procedure in such cases. Griset was employed by the National Front as an "accredited assistant" between 2010 and 2016. The European Parliament is also looking into more than 41,500 euros paid to Thierry Legier, who is Le Pen's bodyguard. Le Pen told AFP Tuesday she had never received the money and compared the case with allegations that her conservative challenger in the presidential election, Francois Fillon, paid his wife and children around 900,000 euros for "fake jobs" as parliamentary assistants. "To repay the money, I would have had to receive it in the first place, but I am not Francois Fillon," she said. "Furthermore, I formally contest this unilateral and illegal decision," Le Pen added. National Front treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just confirmed Tuesday that Le Pen had refused to repay the funds. (AFP)

EU parliament to take money from Le Pen's salary for 'funding' assistant

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