We're going to call it a day on this live blog right now. Thank you for staying with us, and here's a rundown of what happened this evening:
Outgoing President Emmanuel Macron and far-right National Rally candidate Marine Le Pen came out on top in the first round of voting in France's presidential elections, and will now square off in the second round decider on April 24.
Macron won 28 percent of the vote, which was higher than most analysts and polls projected, but Le Pen's score of more than 23 percent will give her supporters plenty of hope in the coming fortnight.
With around 21% of the vote, far-left firebrand Jean-Luch Mélenchon came in third, cementing his status as the leader of what is left of France's left. TheWe’re going to wrap this live blog up now. Thanks for staying with us, and here is a summary of this evening’s events:
Emmanuel Macron, the outgoing president, and Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally have finished top of the first round of voting in France’s presidential and will now face each other in the second round decider on 24 April.
Macron scored better than most analysts and polls had predicted, winning 28% of the vote, but Le Pen’s score of more than 23% will give her supporters plenty of hope for the coming fortnight.
The far-left firebrand Jean-Luch Mélenchon came third on about 21% of the vote, confirming his status as the leader of what is left of France’s left. The far-right polemicist Eric Zemmour was fourth with about 7%.