French presidential candidates prepare for second-round vote

French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen are preparing for the deciding runoff vote on May 7th.

"I am the one who today has to create unity within a fractured France against Mrs Le Pen who is the face of the National Front, a party we've known for decades. I unfortunately grew up with a French political landscape marked by this party. It is the one of hate, refusal of the other and a shrunken France," said Emmanuel Macron.

"The election of Mr Macron will be the pursuit and acceleration of a flow of migrants. This election therefore asks the French people on mass immigration, mass immigration: stop, or more? Stop." said Marine Le Pen.

The centrist Macron urges non-voters in the first round vote to go to the polls for the second-round, warning that a low turnout will benefit his far-right rival. The far-right's Le Pen, in a rally in Nice, reaffirmed her commitment to address France's security concerns by cracking down on terrorism.

French opinion polls suggest Macron will defeat Le Pen in the presidential runoff. Meanwhile, demonstrations burst out in several French cities against the election of both candidates. Protests by students in Paris turned violent on Tuesday. Protesters were later dispersed by police with tear gas.