BREAKING. Marine Le Pen Declares Victory in First Round of French Presidential Elections

By streiff | 3:55 PM on April 23, 2017

The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com.

Far-right leader and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, Marine Le Pen, waves to supporters after exit poll results of the first round of the presidential election were announced at her election day headquarters in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, Sunday, April 23, 2017. Polling agency projections show far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron leading in the first-round French presidential election. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

Right-wing politician Marine Le Pen claimed victory alongside centrist Emmanuel Macron for the French presidential runoff, with the future of the European Union at stake.

With opponents conceding, the choice of far-right firebrand Le Pen and unconventional centrist Macron upends France’s traditional parties after the first round of elections.

They advance to a head-to-head runoff May 7 that could further the worldwide march of anti-globalization populists.

This sets up a runoff between Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron. Polls by the same folks who proclaimed Trump couldn’t win are now touting Macron’s lead in the runoff polls

Clinton led Trump by 2-3 points
Remain led Leave by 1-2 points
Macron leads Le Pen by 26 points in runoff polls

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) April 23, 2017

Le Pen has a hard row to hoe to pull off a May victory, but if you don’t think 50,000 paramilitary police and 7,000 French soldiers on the street to keep election day safe won’t focus attention of immigration and French identity, I don’t think you’ve been paying attention.

Tonight's election once again shows that the young *are* open to populism. Le Pen + Melenchon got >50% among the young, <20% among the old. pic.twitter.com/5TN20q8Vyv

— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) April 23, 2017