Macron, Le Pen qualify for run-off

French President Emmanuel Macron and far-right rival Marine Le Pen yesterday embarked on a final fortnight of bruising campaigning for a French presidential election run-off whose outcome is far more uncertain than their encounter five years ago.

With 97 percent votes counted, Macron came in first in Sunday's first round of voting with 27.6 percent of the vote. Le Pen was second with 23.4 percent.

As the top two finishers, they advance to a second round on April 24.

Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon came close to beating Le Pen for the second spot, after a late surge gave him a score of just under 22 percent.

The duel between Macron and Le Pen is a re-run of the 2017 election final from which Macron emerged victorious with 66 percent. But this time polls predict a closer contest which will crucially hinge on voters who backed other candidates in the first round.

"Make no mistake: nothing is decided," Macron told cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters Sunday night.

Le Monde daily headlined: "Macron-Le Pen -- A more uncertain Act II."