Updated April 24, 2017 10:44:23

France has delivered a few firsts with this history-making election.

The first presidential vote to be held while France is under a state of emergency and the first time no major party is in the runoff.

But in the end there were few surprises.

The pollsters — often brutally castigated for bad predictions — got it right.

They had said that Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen would come out on top and head into the final vote.

Her supporters see her as France's saviour, and she's managed to turn her National Front party from the far-right fringe to serious political contender.

But there was the unpredictability of the impact of the terrorist attack on the Champs Elysees last week.

And the uncertainty as to whether people being polled were truly telling questioners how they planned to vote.

There appears little chance that Ms Le Pen will win on May 7.

The losing candidates are already calling on their supporters to back Mr Macron to avoid having a far right candidate in the presidency.

Ms Le Pen may have broadened her base, but 75 per cent of eligible voters did not support her in this election and they are unlikely to swing behind her now.

The pollsters suggest the final result could be close to 60-40 with a few points either way.

The stylish former investment banker and political newcomer has shocked pundits and is now a serious contender for France's presidency.

France will not become the next major country to fall to populism.

Disaster will be averted for the European Union. France will continue to play its part in global affairs and the two major parties will have to ask themselves how they can reinvent themselves to be part of the new political era.

But even a loss for Ms Le Pen will be seen as a win.

She has turned her party's fortunes around in the six years she has been leader and they have had a series of wins in local government elections.

And she has had an impact on the public debate in France that will be long lasting.

Her supporters believe she is positioning herself for another tilt at the presidency in 2022.

Some of them were suggesting that even as they were celebrating her second place position in this initial vote.

But do not think she will not be trying to win.

She says the survival of French civilization relies on her.

Topics: world-politics, elections, political-parties, government-and-politics, federal-elections, france

First posted April 24, 2017 09:58:48