Macron and Le Pen through to final round of France's presidential election, estimates suggest
By Bryony Jones and Hilary Clarke, CNN
Updated 2:18 PM ET, Sun April 23, 2017
(CNN)Polls have closed in France's bitterly divisive presidential election. Early projections suggest Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have made it through to the second round runoff.
According to estimates from CNN affiliate BFMTV and polling company Elabe, centrist newcomer Emmanuel Macron secured 24% of the vote, with National Front leader Marine Le Pen close behind on 21.8%.
BFMTV and Elabe suggest scandal-hit conservative François Fillon and far-left wildcard Jean-Luc Mélenchon secured 19.9% and 19.3% of the vote respectively, and have been knocked out of the closely-fought race.
A huge cheer went up at Macron's campaign headquarters as the news came through.
"France's political map is tonight redrawn," said CNN's Melissa Bell, who was at the scene.
"It's a political earthquake in this country and in Europe," veteran journalist Christine Ockrent told CNN. "Macron's is a remarkable achievement, because he represents optimism."
more:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/23/europe/french-presidential-election-results/index.html
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