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What We Know in France: Macron and Le Pen Headed for Runoff What We Know in France: Macron and Le Pen Headed for Runoff
(about 1 hour later)
Right Now: Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, pro-European Union candidate, appears headed for a runoff with Marine Le Pen of the far right in the French presidential race. The Latest: Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, pro-European Union candidate, and Marine Le Pen of the far right appeared headed toward a runoff vote on May 7 in the French presidential race.
■ Mr. Macron, an independent former investment banker, and Ms. Le Pen, the leader of the National Front party, would face each other in a vote scheduled for May 7, based on early returns and projections. ■ Mr. Macron, an independent former investment banker, and Ms. Le Pen, the leader of the National Front party, received the most votes of 11 candidates in the first round, based on early returns and projections.
■ The result seems to be “a full-throated rebuke of France’s traditional mainstream parties,” The Times’s Paris bureau chief, Alissa J. Rubin, reports. The runoff sets the country on an uncertain path that could also decide the future of the European Union. ■ The result was “a full-throated rebuke of France’s traditional mainstream parties,” The Times’s Paris bureau chief, Alissa J. Rubin, reports. The runoff sets the country on an uncertain path that could also decide the future of the European Union.
■ New York Times correspondents in Paris and elsewhere in Europe followed the vote live.■ New York Times correspondents in Paris and elsewhere in Europe followed the vote live.
Here’s what we know:Here’s what we know:
With 81 percent of the vote counted, the Interior Ministry reports that Mr. Macron holds a narrow lead with 23.3 percent of the vote, compared with 22.7 percent for Ms. Le Pen. Even with many votes still to be counted, the consensus is that these two candidates will advance to the May 7 runoff. With 89 percent of the vote counted, the Interior Ministry reports that Mr. Macron holds a narrow lead with 23.5 percent of the vote, compared with 22.1 percent for Ms. Le Pen. Even with some votes still to be counted, the consensus is that these two candidates will advance to the May 7 runoff.
François Fillon, the center-right candidate who appears to be in third place, and Benoît Hamon, the Socialist candidate in fifth, have conceded. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left candidate who seems to be narrowly behind Mr. Fillon, has not conceded. François Fillon, a center-right candidate in third place, and Benoît Hamon, the Socialist candidate in fifth, have conceded. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left candidate, is narrowly behind Mr. Fillon.
Official results on the ministry’s website are expected soon. Official results can be found on the ministry’s website.
After abandoning traditional parties a year ago and campaigning as an independent on a pro-European Union platform, Mr. Macron, 39, said on Sunday that he wanted to be a “president of patriots, to face the threat of nationalists.” After abandoning traditional parties a year ago and campaigning on a pro-European Union platform, Mr. Macron, 39, said on Sunday that he wanted to be a “president of patriots, to face the threat of nationalists.”
It was a direct challenge to Ms. Le Pen, although he did not mention her by name in his speech. He tried to broaden the appeal of his prescription for the French economy and its standing in Europe by reaching out to the voters who supported the two main parities — the Republicans of Mr. Fillon and the Socialists of Mr. Hamon. It was a direct challenge to Ms. Le Pen, although he did not mention her by name in his speech. He tried to broaden the appeal of his prescription for the French economy and its standing in Europe by reaching out to the voters who supported the two main parties: the Republicans of Mr. Fillon and the Socialists of Mr. Hamon.
“The challenge from tonight is not to go vote against anyone,” Mr. Macron said. “The challenge is to decide to completely break with the system that has been unable to address the problems of our country for more than 30 years.”“The challenge from tonight is not to go vote against anyone,” Mr. Macron said. “The challenge is to decide to completely break with the system that has been unable to address the problems of our country for more than 30 years.”
Ms. Le Pen thanked her supporters on Sunday in the small town of Hénin-Beaumont in northeastern France, telling them: “This result is historic.” Ms. Le Pen thanked her supporters on Sunday in the small town of Hénin-Beaumont in northeastern France, telling them, “This result is historic.”
She did not mention her apparent runoff rival, Mr. Macron, by name, but referred to him derisively as the “heir” of the unpopular sitting president, François Hollande, a Socialist. She said it was “time to free the French people” of the “arrogant elites” who want to dictate to them. She did not mention her apparent runoff rival, Mr. Macron, by name, but referred to him derisively as the “heir” of the unpopular sitting president, François Hollande, a Socialist. She said it was “time to free the French people” of “arrogant elites” who want to dictate to them.
She told her cheering supporters that the biggest issue of the election was “untamed globalization” that is threatening France and its culture, a theme she emphasized during the campaign. She told her cheering supporters that the biggest issue of the election was “untamed globalization,” which she said was threatening France and its culture, a theme she emphasized during the campaign.
For years, Ms. Le Pen has put criticism of globalization and Islam at the center of her platform. Throughout the campaign, she railed against immigration and vowed to reconsider France’s participation in the European Union and the common currency.For years, Ms. Le Pen has put criticism of globalization and Islam at the center of her platform. Throughout the campaign, she railed against immigration and vowed to reconsider France’s participation in the European Union and the common currency.
On Sunday, she called the projected first-round outcome “an act of French pride,” and said voters were “sure of their values and confident of the future.”On Sunday, she called the projected first-round outcome “an act of French pride,” and said voters were “sure of their values and confident of the future.”
Ms. Le Pen made it to the runoff for the first time, garnering a higher percentage of votes than she did when she ran in 2012. She also drew a higher percentage than her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, when he led the National Front in 2002 and made it to the second round.Ms. Le Pen made it to the runoff for the first time, garnering a higher percentage of votes than she did when she ran in 2012. She also drew a higher percentage than her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, when he led the National Front in 2002 and made it to the second round.
Mr. Fillon, the mainstream-right candidate who was dogged by charges of corruption and nepotism, said on Sunday, “The obstacles put on my path were too numerous, too cruel.”Mr. Fillon, the mainstream-right candidate who was dogged by charges of corruption and nepotism, said on Sunday, “The obstacles put on my path were too numerous, too cruel.”
He conceded defeat and told supporters that because “extremism can only bring about the misfortune and division of France,” he would vote for Mr. Macron in the runoff.He conceded defeat and told supporters that because “extremism can only bring about the misfortune and division of France,” he would vote for Mr. Macron in the runoff.
Mr. Macron, a former banker and independent centrist, was virtually neck and neck with Ms. Le Pen in opinion polls before the vote. Socially liberal but in favor of more control in the marketplace, he wants to loosen labor rules and make France more business-friendly, but he says he would preserve the social safety net. Mr. Macron, a former banker and independent centrist, was neck and neck with Ms. Le Pen in polls before the vote. Socially liberal but in favor of more control in the marketplace, he wants to loosen labor rules and make France more business-friendly, but he says he would preserve the social safety net.
While he has the potential to draw votes from across the political spectrum, he is regarded warily by both left and right: on the left for his free-market ideas and his support for the European Union, and on the right for his embrace of immigration and of social outreach to all groups in society.While he has the potential to draw votes from across the political spectrum, he is regarded warily by both left and right: on the left for his free-market ideas and his support for the European Union, and on the right for his embrace of immigration and of social outreach to all groups in society.
Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, a Socialist, called on French voters on Sunday to back Mr. Macron in the runoff, “to beat the National Front and to thwart its dire project of regression for France and division of the French.”Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, a Socialist, called on French voters on Sunday to back Mr. Macron in the runoff, “to beat the National Front and to thwart its dire project of regression for France and division of the French.”
Mr. Cazeneuve called Ms. Le Pen’s agenda “dangerous and sectarian” and said it would “impoverish, isolate and divide” the country.Mr. Cazeneuve called Ms. Le Pen’s agenda “dangerous and sectarian” and said it would “impoverish, isolate and divide” the country.
The Socialist party candidate, Benoît Hamon, also threw his support behind Mr. Macron, a former Socialist. The Socialist candidate, Mr. Hamon, also threw his support behind Mr. Macron, a former Socialist.
Mr. Hamon, trying to explain his disappointing fifth-place finish to fellow Socialists, said: “I know you are waiting for a rebirth. Tonight it is painful. Tomorrow it will be fruitful. I do not promise it to you; I am asking it of you.”Mr. Hamon, trying to explain his disappointing fifth-place finish to fellow Socialists, said: “I know you are waiting for a rebirth. Tonight it is painful. Tomorrow it will be fruitful. I do not promise it to you; I am asking it of you.”
How to re-energize France’s economy has been the issue at the center of much of the campaign, and it will feature in the head-to-head race between Mr. Macron and Ms. Le Pen before the second round of voting on May 7.How to re-energize France’s economy has been the issue at the center of much of the campaign, and it will feature in the head-to-head race between Mr. Macron and Ms. Le Pen before the second round of voting on May 7.
Mr. Macron, a former economy minister, has talked of overhauling the rules governing the French economy, and is ardently pro-Europe. Ms. Le Pen has said she would take France out of the European Union, and maybe withdraw from the euro currency, as well. Mr. Macron, a former economy minister, has talked of overhauling the rules governing the French economy and is ardently pro-Europe. Ms. Le Pen has said she would take France out of the European Union, and maybe withdraw from the euro currency as well.
Domestic security, terrorism and Muslim immigration — omnipresent background issues during the first round — will probably fuel debate between the two contenders in the weeks to come.Domestic security, terrorism and Muslim immigration — omnipresent background issues during the first round — will probably fuel debate between the two contenders in the weeks to come.
French political analysts do not give Ms. Le Pen much chance of winning in the second round, however. Even before the first-round results were official, the other candidates and members of the political establishment appeared to be lining up behind Mr. Macron and warning against the dangers of Ms. Le Pen’s nationalist agenda for France. French political analysts do not give Ms. Le Pen much chance of winning the second round, however. Even before the first-round results were official, the other candidates and members of the political establishment appeared to be lining up behind Mr. Macron and warning against the dangers of Ms. Le Pen’s nationalist agenda for France.
“It will inevitably lead to the end of Europe and of the euro, and, eventually, to France’s relegation,” Mr. Cazeneuve, the prime minister, said. “The National Front cannot be the future of our country.”“It will inevitably lead to the end of Europe and of the euro, and, eventually, to France’s relegation,” Mr. Cazeneuve, the prime minister, said. “The National Front cannot be the future of our country.”