The two top candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen to face each other in a second run-off, on Sunday, May 7.
French presidential contenders are perhaps their starkest divide in foreign policy positions as Emmanuel Macron urging close cooperation with international institutions and Marine Le Pen championing France-first nationalism.- Sunday's election is seen as the most important in France for decades, with two diametrically opposed views of Europe and France's place in the world at stake.
- Emmanuel Macron defeated Marine Le Pen in the first round and few commentators believe she will turn the tables on 7 May.
- Police officers walk past the Eiffel tower as Greenpeace activists display a banner who reads, 'liberty, equality, fraternity\" in Paris, France. The protest is against far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen day before the runoff.
- Marine Le Pen's campaign of \"de-démonisation\" since clawing the leadership from her father in 2011 sought to soften the party's toxic image. French election pundits, however, say it is unlikely she will win the second round of voting.
- Voters will be making a decision on France's future direction and on its place at the heart of the European Union. Macron backs EU reform as well as deeper European integration, where as Marine Le Pen wants a Europe of nations to replace the EU.
- All opinion polls suggest Mr Macron is heading for a big victory, polling about 60% in the second round - though his lead has narrowed in the last days before voting.
- Sunday's election is seen as the most important in France for decades, with two diametrically opposed views of Europe and France's place in the world at stake.
French presidential contenders are perhaps their starkest divide in foreign policy positions as Emmanuel Macron urging close cooperation with international institutions and Marine Le Pen championing France-first nationalism.
The two top candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen to face each other in a second run-off, on Sunday, May 7.
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