France Prepares for a Tight Presidential Runoff Between Macron and Le Pen

After the first round of France's presidential race, Emmanuel Macron's reelection is the most likely scenario, which would ensure domestic and foreign policy continuity. However, a disruptive far-right victory is still possible and the results demonstrate growing polarization that will complicate future governing. Centrist incumbent candidate Macron received 27.8% of the vote in the first round of France's presidential election on April 10, followed by right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen with 23.1%. The two candidates will face each other in a runoff election on April 24. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, meanwhile, came in third place with 22.2% of the vote, followed by far-right candidate Eric Zemmour with 7.1%. After the election, the conservative candidate Valerie Pecresse (4.8%), the green candidate Yannick Jadot (4.6%) and the socialist candidate Anne Hidalgo (1.7%) all called for their supporters to vote for Macron in the runoff election. Melenchon asked his supporters not to vote...