France faced potential political deadlock after elections on Sunday threw up a hung parliament, with a leftist alliance unexpectedly taking the top spot but no group winning a majority

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is charged over claims her party illegally claimed millions of euros from the European Parliament to pay for France-based staff, her lawyer says.

Aides of French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen brush off criticism of her use of phrases lifted straight from a speech by conservative rival Francois Fillon in her May Day address to supporters.

Pro-European Emmanuel Macron is set to face far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in France's presidential run-off, results show, making him clear favourite to emerge as the country's youngest leader in its history.