WHAT THE POLLS SAY
The two pollsters IPSOS and TNS Sofres both put centrist Macron and far-right Le Pen through to the second round on May 7, but their numbers varied.
According to Ipsos had Macron at 23.7 percent of the vote, Le Pen took 21.7.
According to TNS Sofres, both Le Pen and Macron took 23 percent of the vote.
HAMON CONCEDES, ENDORSES MACRON
The Socialist candidate Benoît Hamon spoke to his audience after winning only 6-7 percent of the first round vote. He said: “The left is not dead.”
He also put his support behind the centrist candidate. “I call to beat the far right by voting for Macron.”
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Carmen Paun
French election: live blog
REACTION FROM MELENCHON HQ
Sophie Rauszer, a Mélenchon staffer, said: “We did by far the best campaign.” Another campaign volunteer refused to concede, saying: “We are not sure of the results as it depends on polling stations.” Right now everyone is head down, touching their phones vigorously. Data connnection is very slow, including for the TVs in the headquarters.
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Quentin Ariès