The number of candidates, each of whom must gather over 500 endorsements from elected local politicians to qualify for the race, is in the average range this time compared with prior elections. The 2002 presidential race saw a record 16 contenders qualify.
National Front leader Le Pen is leading first-round polls, ahead of Macron, the 39-year-old independent candidate who created his political movement less than a year ago. Republican Fillon, who was the favorite until January, is trailing Macron by 8 percentage points, according to Friday’s rolling daily survey by pollster Ifop. All polls show Le Pen would be defeated in the run-off.
/Bloomberg/
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