French election's international impact could be key

London

FRANCE holds its final round presidential election on Sunday with Emmanuel Macron the favourite to win against Marine Le Pen. The standoff between the liberal centrist and his nationalist, far right opponent is being watched closely in large parts of Europe, but also globally given its potential ramifications beyond the continent.

Given the size of Mr Macron's polling lead over Ms Le Pen, which is around 60-40 per cent in numerous recent surveys, it can be overlooked that he only relatively recently - and unexpectedly - broke through as a champion of the centre ground in France. His rise has defied the march of conservative populism in many industrialised countries in the last year which has seen parties of the Left and centre ground sometimes taking a political battering.