a.m. join the discussion. for theesults are in first round of voting in the french presidential election. the two candidates receiving the most votes are former french economy minister emmanuel macron and national friend leader marine le pen. they will now face a runoff vote on may 7 two determine who becomes the next president of france. it is the first time in modern french history that the presidential runoff will not feature a major party candidate. next, a look at some of the election coverage, including speeches from the candidates. this is courtesy of france 24. there we have it. a major upset in french political history. emmanuel macron, the newcomer 23.7% of thep, 43.7% o vote, head of marine le pen's

21.7% of the vote. for the first time ever, the two mainstream parties are illuminated after round one. -- are eliminated after round one. two outsiders, emmanuel macron and marine le pen, will face off on may 7 for the second round. we thought there might be three names, but we now have two names. >> indeed, now let's take a look at how the other candidates faired. there you have it. you can see an externally tight race. jean-lucfillon and melenchon are tied for third. and look at the dip for the socialist party. it really is incredible under the 10% mark. and then we have nicolas dupont-aignan with 5%. let's see if we can look at the other candidates, just to see where all 11 candidates came in. and then we see pretty much

trailing in, 1.5%, 1.2%. that being said, mark, this is historic. mark: yes, nobody would have thought emmanuel macron would be in the lead. marine le pen was said to be in the second round, but much higher. at one point she was around 30%. she is ending just a tad under 22%. obviously, this pushes her through to the second round. this was achieved by her father in 2002. nashua will be facing off against emmanuel macron and already to project ourselves on may 7, the second round, all the polls have shown that emmanuel macron would win, and would become france's next president. there are two weeks of campaigning to go. if so, emmanuel macron would become very, very president of france.

obviously, this is a whole new campaign, starting tonight. >> i don't know if we have the images we could pull up of the headquarters just to see the reaction to this news as it comes in. there we have the images from emmanuel macron supporters. they are certainly ecstatic that their candidate has pulled off something that has not been seen before in france. this 39-year-old has pulled off this victory. he does not belong to a political party. he started his own movement one year ago and has been able to galvanize support. that is what we see there. he came out on top. i don't know if we can perhaps pull up the images that we have from northern france, where we have got marine le pen's headquarters, but the images must be similar. alexis is joining us here. of are the former director

european directives. >> the two main parties are out. emmanuel macron has no party. that the populist movement we have seen in europe is not in first with marine le pen. the last three-month, she was not to be number one. nobody was in front of her. clearly, emmanuel macron had more votes tonight. more is going to happen, i think, apart from the campaign. and in the run up, the big parties will have to think ahead and how they recompose and what will be next because a lot of people will join either or. you might see people from the right saying, no, now marine le pen might be the new right and emmanuel macron might be a new

hope for leftists. sixth in the polls is very low. >> the knives will come out very quickly in the mainstream parties. one thing we can say for once, because we have been criticizing the polling institute, they were right. they predicted macron versus le pen. this is not an exit poll. this was taken from a sample of representative voting stations. >> and in a very close election, they were very, very right. and% for jean-luc melenchon 19.4% for francois fillon or what they predicted on friday. they will be at least, happy. the other thing i think that is noticeable is this is a clear shift to the right in france.

if you add up, disregarding the smaller candidates, 19.5% for jean-luc melenchon and %, that makes up the electorate. macron trying to present himself as something that was not in the middle. that he is a center candidate, more or less. that means the mainstream right candidate, and the far right candidate collected a huge majority of the vote. the question now before we go into the second round will be whether to take a leap into the unknown with marine le pen, because a lot of the next round will be about europe and she wants a referendum on leaving the european union, she wants a referendum on leaving the euro, she wants to leave nato. these are big decisions. so, macron will come to present the status quo.

le pen will represent what she has always represented and perhaps, french voters will feel her time is right. but it looks like nothing can be predicted, but it looks like macron will probably win. >> although, that being said, when we see these two candidates, neither from the traditional parties, are we se eing frances political landscape shifting completely? as you mentioned earlier, this is the fifth republic. it has ailments and we have seen that. is this a provision of that? -- is this a fruition of that? >> this is the collapse of the two mainstream parties. is the crisis of party part of the crisis of the regime? it makes a very interesting to liberation. -- interesting deliberation.

the immediate question is what happens. >> how about war. >> they are going to tear themselves apart. that actually tells us something about what happens in the future because in a sense, this fifth republic, only properly functions if you have a highly personalized president, but that president has a parliamentary majority. it is going to great enormous problems. the point being made that macron does not even have a party, let alone a majority in parliament and le pen, she has two mp's. there is going to be an enormous rocky ride. >> we are going to cross declare williams, who was at the rally there. -- we are going to claire there, it was at the rally there. there is a lot of energy behind you. >> there are a lot of people

behind me and they are absolutely ecstatic. they know there is a very good chance that marine le pen -- that emmanuel macron will be the next president. they are pretty confident. there is one thing many to think about. you can hear them behind me shouting "macron." there are parliamentary elections that come up in june and macron does not have a party. his own party that he launched one year ago had 14,000 people across the country saying they would like to see him as a candidate, but there newcomers to politics. emmanuel macron, he is a happy and confident man tonight. even if he becomes an ex-president, he has to think about the parliamentary elections, which happen in june. >> thank you, claire. as we are speaking, we have reactions from french

politicians, especially on the conservative side. francois fillon, the leading republican candidate, says the result is an earthquake for us. while another leader of the party has already called for a vote in favor of emmanuel macron . we will see much more of this. in the meantime, let's cross to northern france for the national front headquarters. i am imagining the mood is rather festive, though maybe marine le pen was hoping she would come up firstr. -- come up first. >> absolutely, when we started looking at polling, marine le pen was the front runner, well above 20 points, which is a much higher score than she got on those provisional results. you can see behind me, there is going on.oo-ing

people are watching french tv, where they saw the announcement of the first-round provisional results. is currently speaking, the socialist party candidate. people have been pretty much boo-ing anyone. the exact moment when we found out the provisional results, there was a real outpouring of singing of la marseilles, people think, we are going to win. there is a jubilant atmosphere here. we will have to see what marine le pen herself has to say when she turns up to speak a little later. >> we have got some reaction coming in to her victory, although in second place. many are saying her project will

"cause chaos." , whats what we will see she has to offer coming under tight scrutiny. >> indeed. it will be an interesting debate between the two. emmanuel macron is very much the centrist candidate and marine le pen has been honing her far right issues for quite a few years, working on her issues of security, fighting terrorism. those really are the issues they keep mentioning to me time and time again. they want france to close its borders, to stop militants coming in from foreign countries. a lot of people do want to see friendly the european union. marine le pen has promised at least six months of negotiation with the european union on france's position and a french referendum. we do know there has been

growing anti-european sentiment here in france ever since the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008, and all the problems th e euro currency has had. >> thank you. we have to cut you off because benoit hamon, the socialist candidate, is speaking right now. have to defeat the nationalist france and the extreme right by voting for emmanuel macron. is not ammanuel macron man of the left, and he is not entitled to represent the left, i still make a clear distinction between a political adversary and an enemy of the republic. [applause] >> this is no time for levity, no time for levity.

the struggle goes on. already after the second round of the presidential elections, will have the legislative elections, and we are already thinking of those who voted for us. i will never leave you and never abandon you. therepresent the hope of left. it is not only the duty of the left, but our shared common past , because i know where i come from and why i struggled. i will always continue speaking to the intelligence of the great french people. live therefore, long republic and tomorrow, long live the left. thank you. >> there you have the socialist candidate, benoit hamon, addressing his supporters there. it was a bit of a tough pill

for him to swallow. these estimates, these are estimates that have been taken on initial vote tallies. they have given him just over 6%. >> this is a historic defeat. he admitted it and took responsibility for it. interestingly, he called upon his supporters to vote for emmanuel macron in the second round and as he was speaking, we see a number of conservative politicians also calling for a vote in favor of emmanuel macron , while the national front officials are calling on more votes for marine le pen, including from francois fillon's own camp. obviously, we already see thign ngs shifting to prepare for the second round. i want to ask, you were hoping the french would vote the right

before 8:00. are you satisfied? >> let's say, i am against populism. i am glad to say we don't have two populist members at the top. at the this is going to be a default victory. it would have taken in the analysis i made before, for marine le pen to get 34% in a standalone on the first round considering position and over 30% in order to be a legitimate candidate in the second round. the way it plays out, it becomes a default victory you everyone is going to rue behind the other one because there is only one sensible choice to use my term. we are not voting for somebody we necessarily believe in or know what he is going to do. that is where my disappointment comes in.

>> we are saying this is an earthquake considering the traditional parties are not there yet -- not there. has friends really voted the same? >> that as a result. of course, he is a slightly different policy, except where not sure what that was you were for program is -- policy or program is for you -- is. he is hopefully going to take an opportunity to craft and break down the old-fashioned molds we have had. >> is been working for years behind the scenes. as you see, this is the hold of you it is great but it is all about the branding culture and

how it works. macron you micron was -- was the guru, you're going to win. a few bits here and there. a program became one of months before the first run -- round. career, it is his hollande, and prolonged is very low in the public opinions -- hoolande is very low on the public opinions. what would you vote for a guy -- it is fine. i think it is something that is ok for five years. if you change the moment you should not get emmanuel macron. part of thet it is populist movement we see over the world, >> the estimates from our partner but emmanuel macron 23.7

ahead, marine le pen 21.7. 82% difference between the candidates. some other polling institutes have put them tied at 23%. it is not change the fact that they both qualified for round two. i wanted to add this as an element of information. this being said, marine le pen was certainly hoping for more. yes, i like to have a point that i am a more positive, i acronthe mac home -- m victory a more positive like that you do. i think there are other factors involved. i think it is probably unfair to is hollande's.

andid resign and anoint awful lot of people when he did what he did when he resigned from the government. i also think that he initially, the initial surge of his popularity was about doing something different and breaking . of the mold created this to a certain extent, the fuzziness over his program was that he was slightly trapped in a way that he could not really come up with a program because he was standing on a tightrope. neither left nor right, both left and right. he tried to develop a program that did not see him tilt too far in one direction or the other.

it is truen extent that there have been a series of ambiguities and ambivalence about what exactly is his program. is make your mind up time. he has to come up with a program. the question was he was held in a sense by his physician between -- his position between right and left. do is morets to thoroughgoing at modernization then we see at the moment you -- moment. hopefully we will now see it. >> someone who tries very hard to please everyone. it worked. it worked. the people on the left, i lost the right find

him too wishy-washy. he tries to please everyone and in some ways please no one and has pleased about people to do extremely well. >> we are going to cross back to clear williams -- clear williams -- claire: i'm with the advisor for the movement. he is an american in paris area how do you feel? >> it is overwhelming. worked on 45 campaigns, this may be the most exciting i have ever been a part of . four candidates complete tied in the polls, all within the margin of error. the top two candidates, nothing -- nothing from a traditional political party. we are just getting started. >> two weeks until the second round, when is next -- with what is next? >> an army of volunteers have

been trained to go door-to-door to convince voters were hesitating whether or not devote to convince them with sincerity and information, you may seek to vote for a france that is not closed. democratic. open to the world. >> he does not have his own political party. you are not worried about the parliamentary elections in june? >> is a big challenge but you will see the tectonic plates of all the parties are shifting to -- shifting. we have members ready to make history. 15,000 candidates for legislation. we will be competing very strongly. >> think you very much. a campaigner for the movement. some very positive about the next steps for emmanuel macron. >> obviously some inspiration from the obama campaign.

how much truth is there in this? french politics are totally different from american politics. this grassroots movement, it is mobilizing, has worked. it is not the only reason while -- why emmanuel macron made it but it played a part. >> we were told he had a telephone conversation with barack obama last week and lots of interest without about that. i wonder if obama gave him tips about getting the vote out. large majority of them are young people, many people thought after brexit will they actually go out and about? clearly they have in enough numbers to get in a victory. the other interesting thing about macron is he is hugely popular amongst french expert to cap voted in numbers. he is an awfully popular in london.

-- enormously popular in london. young and can get business back going in france. that has been enormously helpful. >> we have 1.3 million french nationals abroad. that does make up 2%. see the numbers with these estimates this close, it does have an impact. when we see things now, what does the pendant do moving leward -- what does pen do> >> she will be on the brexit road. clear, they want their question of who you work for in europe bv center of the program. i think marine le pen will go further in the process of promising more by getting out, including borders.

putting security and religion back on the table. macron will be on the business side and how you make business work again. he is very popular. that is good news and it is all about branding. thene le pen, she is on side of trunk, put in. trudeau. the new >> just a quick add-on to a alexis has said. this is one of her disadvantages, she is europe. and the euro. the french so want the eurozone. even though europe cannot them they do not want to leave the eu. and youushes for this can see in the run-up to the first round she started actually diminishing the references to the eu and the euro.

given the idea that maybe these weren't actually. now she is going to be forced into this by the most you -- pro-european candidates which will be a real disadvantage to her. she will have to push for something that the french in the majority are not in favor of. seen a number of leading conservative politicians lending their support for emmanuel macron. we've also seen the socialist prime minister formally call for socialist voters to support emmanuel macron. candidate, very close to the current president or loans. -- francois hollande -- >> a ready argument to marine le pen. all system is against a. emmanuel macron since -- says he is not the elite.

he is the exact embodiment of the elite. abuseders should not be by this kind of idea that he is an outsider. >> i couldn't agree more. he comes from the one on the administration. -- hollandent administration. he is a representation. what is happening on social media, the end of the day love the globalization also came from the younger people. i plugged in deeply with what is happening with analysis looking at what the other people are doing and how engaged where they with what was being said? -- me show and then elonchon and le pen prepared to tweak to their followers. home, -- macon, number one,

is not in any of them. a much lower type of engagement because he is what? we are going to be voting for not somebody. i am not have had is going to vote for them. i like a little bit of this. aboutve to be strategic how you are going to vote. that, a little bit of that, not that. >> what is interesting is the fact that we've seen emmanuel macron really try to distance seeing -- and of we have seen centrist candidate get 18%. 2007. everyone is criticizing him but

there is no major accidents. he is france's next president. forhere are only 19% francois fillon, the rights -- the right-wing candidate. that is all marine le pen can pick up and that is was going to be enough. illon willikely f support macron. >> it looks as though, it looks unlikely that she will win. perhapsshe be able to go up to how he will go about governing in terms of parliament revote? a weakness for her as well. neither of them have a party, neither can count on the majority. he at least might be -- might be able to get together some sort of government coalition. no party is going to support

her. a major weakness, the fact that she does not have a parliamentary majority. at the end of the day she will need the french national assembly behind her. >> what is incredible is that emmanuel macron, can you tell me he was going to be his prime minister? nobody knows. >> a lot of people around and as we see the movement, a lot of american missiles in there. --

>> former defense minister. the guy fighting to be prime minister if he wins? and he should win. is if heoing to happen does not get a job or does not get what he wants, will be coalition last long enough for things to happen? that is the key question. i think marine le pen, even if she does not win, she won a big part of what is the french right tonight. it is true. even -- that might .ecide to join marine le pen in,f you're just tuning here in the french capital we have a clear picture for francis future.

>> emmanuel macron coming in at first as 23.7%. marine le pen answer national front party taking it as 21% -- 21.7%. they both stand up 19-19 .5%. these figures will -- will change slightly of the four results come in. [applause] countrymen, soow you have brought me