France's Macron leads in presidential election poll

Centrist Emmanuel Macron has taken the lead for the first time over of far right leader Marine Le Pen in the polls, predicted to come out ahead in the first round of France's presidential election.

The Harris Interactive poll showed on Thursday Macron taking 26% of the vote on 23 April – a six-point gain in two weeks – compared with 25% for National Front leader Le Pen, who had long been leading in the first round.

While Le Pen's score was unchanged from the last time the poll was conduced two weeks ago, Macron's surged six percentage points after he unveiled his campaign manifesto and veteran centrist Francois Bayrou gave him his support.

Macron’s stance on the prospect of a Le Pen presidency was echoed by France’s ambassador to Japan, who on Wednesday broke diplomatic protocol by stating publicly that he would refuse to serve if she won.

Macron, a former investment banker who quit the Socialist government in August to prepare a bid for the presidency, has risen fast in opinion polls, but has never won elected office.

On the other hand, conservative Francois Fillon's struggle to overcome allegations that members of his family were paid public money for work they did not really do has also benefited Macron.

The poll showed Fillon, a former Prime Minister who had sought to project a wholesome image before the scandal broke in January, would be eliminated from the race with only 20% of the first round vote, down one point from two weeks earlier.