French President Francois Hollande on Monday urged French voters to reject far-right leader Marine Le Pen, and support centrist contender Emmanuel Macron in the presidential run-off. Hollande said the National Front (NF) leader Le Pen posed a "risk" for the country.
Macron and Le Pen won the first round of the French presidential elections held on April 23, 2017. The run off elections is scheduled for May 7.
Opinion polls state Macron, who has never stood for elected office, will get at least 61 percent votes against Le Pen. Two French presidential candidates who lost in the first round have decided to back Macron to thwart Le Pen's anti-immigrant and Euro-sceptic endorsements, according to Reuters.
"The presence of the far right in the second round is a risk for the country," Hollande said. "What is at stake is France's make-up, its unity, its membership of Europe and its place in the world."
The French President supported his former economy minister Macron in a televised address, stating Le Pen's policies stigmatised sections of French population. Socialist Party's Hollande is the first president in modern history to not seek a second term.
Markets across the world sighed a heave of relief after the first round of polls. The euro reportedly hit a five-month peak following the announcement of results and Europe's STOXX 600 index rose 2 percent, Reuters reported.
Investors across Europe were apprehensive of a Le Pen lead in the polls considering her pledge to ditch Euro, print money and hold a referendum for France to leave the European Union. However, Macron clinched a close lead in the first round, and according to polls Macron stands to emege victorious on the second round as well.
