Macron will lead over Hollande in French presidential elections, poll says

A new poll indicates that the French former minister of economy, Emmanuel Macron, will take the lead over President Francois Hollande in the first round of France’s presidential elections, French newspaper Le Figaro reported on Wednesday.

The survey, conducted between Sep. 25, showed that Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front, will top the first round.

Macron may gain 16 percent of votes, if the candidate of the conservative Republican Party is former president Nicolas Sarkozy, or 15 percent against former prime minister Alain Juppe, so Macron could take a 45 point lead over Hollande.

In both cases, according to the poll, the former economy minister will lose against Sarkozy, who will get 20 percent, Le Pen, who will collect 2628.5 percent, or Juppe, who will gain 25 percent of the votes.

Macron resigned last Aug. 30 from the socialist government to focus on his own political movement, En Marche!, while Hollande said he will take his decision on the candidacy in December.