First Vote of French Election
FILE – In this Monday, April 17, 2017 file photo, far-right candidate for the presidential election Marine Le Pen speaks during a campaign meeting in Paris. They could hardly be more different: Pro-European centrist Emmanuel Macron is facing anti-immigration, anti-EU Marine Le Pen in France’s presidential runoff May 7. (AP Photo/Kamil Zihnioglu, file)
May 15, 2017
On April 23rd, France voted for its new president in the first step of the election process. Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen ranked in the top two of the election which involved 11 candidates.
Emmanuel Macron is a centrist and an independent former investment broker, according to the New York Times.
Marine Le Pen is a far right conservative and was formerly leader of the National Front party (FN); however, she recently stepped down as leader of the National Front (FN) party (BBC), telling French TV that she needed to be above partisan considerations.
Le Pen said, “So, this evening, I am no longer the president of the National Front. I am the candidate for the French presidency,” according to BBC.
The runoff vote, in which the two candidates will run against each other for the seat of French President, is set for May 7th, and according to the telegraph.co.uk, Macron is estimated to win.
According to BBC, “Opinion polls suggest Mr. Macron is firm favourite for the second round but Ms. Le Pen said: ‘We can win, we will win.’”
