Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have taken the first round of France’s presidential election, securing 23.7 and 21.7 percent, respectively. The French election system involves two rounds of voting, with the two most popular candidates advancing.

Among the notable candidates falling short of the top two spots were François Fillon of Les Républicains with 19.9 percent, Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France Insoumise with 19.6 percent, and Benoît Hamon of Parti Socialiste with 6.3 percent.

This election will mark the first in which no representative of major left or right parties makes it to the second round, with Macron being a centrist and founder of the En Marche! party and Le Pen the leader of the party her father founded, the far right Front National.

Macron represents ideas from different sides. He takes stances considered progressive in the United States, such as a higher minimum wage and less privatization of healthcare. However, he leans right economically, supporting cutting corporation taxes and allowing companies to renegotiate 35-hour work weeks.

Le Pen is a strong nationalist, promising to put French natives before foreigners and a strong reduction of immigration into the country. Le Pen promises to remain in the European Union, a withdrawal from NATO, and deregulation of the market.

The second round of the election will be held on May 7.