In France, It's Macron vs. Le Pen, Again, for Presidency

By JOHN LEICESTER and THOMAS ADAMSON, Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — French polling agency projections show President Emmanuel Macron and far-right rival Marine Le Pen leading in the first round of France's presidential election.

If borne out by official results, the two will advance to a presidential runoff April 24 — a remake of their 2017 election battle.

FILE PHOTO: PARIS, FRANCE - APRIL 10: People walk past election campaign posters that show presidential candidates Marine Le Pen (L) and Emmanuel Macron on April 10, 2017 in Paris, France. Voters will go the polls in France for the fist round of a two-round election system on April 23. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The projections give Macron a comfortable first-round lead of 28% support ahead of Le Pen's 23%-to-24% of the vote.

Le Pen thanked voters for sending her into the runoff. Several other defeated French candidates urged supporters not to vote for Le Pen, saying it would throw France into "chaos." Macron, meanwhile, sought wide support from both the right and the left to defeat Le Pen.

Official results are expected later Sunday.

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