French exit polls predict Macron, Le Pen headed for run-off

By AFP 10 April 2022, 9:16 pm Edit

This combination of file photos created on April 10, 2022, shows French far-right party presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and French President Emmanuel Macron. (Joël Saget and Eric Feferberg/ AFP)

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron leads far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the first round of France’s elections today by a larger than expected margin, with the rivals now set to battle for the presidency in a run-off later this month, projections show.

Macron scored 28.1-29.7 percent in the first round and Le Pen 23.3-24.7, with the top two candidates going through to the second round run off on April 24, according to projections by polling firms for French television channels based on a sample of votes.