Thread by @DaveKeating

BREAKING: #Macron beats #LePen in French #presidentielles2022 first round election.

A larger spread than 2017.

These are exit polls so the actual result we'll know in time, but we know that for sure it will be Macron and Le Pen in the 2nd round.

It's also the worst performance ever for a Socialist Party candidate, according to the exit polls.

The full results from the 8pm projection, which has historically proven to end up being accurate.

It is the worst result in history for both the 'big tent' mainsteam parties - the Socialists and the Gaulists.

It is (I think?) the highest vote in history for the far-left.

Valérie Pécresse has just conceded defeat - a catastrophic result for the center-right party of Charles de Gaul.

She endorses Emmanuel #Macron, to protect France from #LePen "and the chaos that would follow".

Centre-left's Hidalgo also endorsed Macron.

Green Party candidate @yjadot conceding.

"I call on Green-minded voters to block the far right by voting for @EmmanuelMacron on 24 April. Nobody should underplay the fundamental threat that is the far right to democracy, social peace, the planet and the values of our republic"

Marine #LePen says #Macron "has fought against individual nations and individual peoples in Europe".

"On the 24th of April, people will vote for our society and civilization," she says. "It will be one where people defend the French language, our civilization, our way of living"

Far-left #Melenchon decries system that makes people "choose between lesser of two evils" but says "you should not vote for Mrs Le Pen"

"I know your anger, but don't give into it. Dont let anger make you do things that would be irreparable"

"Le Pen should not get a single vote"

Five years ago #Melenchon did not endorse Macron or clearly instruct people to not vote for Le Pen. He acknowledged that, and said he will be very clear this time.

He therefor said *four times* that #LePen should not get a single vote from his France Unbowed voters.

The only endorsement #LePen is getting tonight is from her far-right rival Eric #Zemmour, whose outrageous comments during the campaign made her look moderate by comparison

But he has a dig for LePen: "I never lied to get ahead in the polls, I never went against my own thoughts"

#Macron speaking to his supporters now, many of whom are waiving 🇪🇺EU flags. He looks ahead to 2nd round.

"Some may vote for me to block off the far right, and I am fully aware that that does not mean they support my project, and I respect that."

#Macron says he'll work to convince those people who abstained or voted for extremes because they are frustrated about persistent inequalities that his programme has a better future for them than the far right.

He says this vote will be critical for the future of 🇫🇷&🇪🇺.

"I do not want France to pull out of the EU and have only international xenophobes and nationalists as allies," #Macron says.

(#LePen stopped calling for France to leave the EU after #Brexit. No candidate was calling for that in this election)

"I'm counting on you, nothing is certain" #Macron tells his supporters in conclusion.

The French president's biggest enemy he must combat over the next two weeks is apathy.

He cannot afford having anyone think his election is a fait accompli. If they do, they could stay home.