Conservative candidate Francois Fillon has conceded defeat in the French presidential election and has asked his supporters to reject a far-right leadership. Fillon joined other politicians, concerned with the stability of France and the European Union, in asking voters to choose the centrist Emmanuel Macron over the far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, after preliminary results showed the two will face off in the final round on May 7.

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Earlier, socialist contender Benoit Hamon, who also failed to qualify for the final round, made the same request to his supporters. Tweet 1 Also, France Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, from the Socialist Party, asked voters on his Twitter page to "unite" and vote for Macron. French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault also tweeted a call to vote for Macron in the final round. Tweet Popular Green Party (EELV) politician Cecile Duflot said she will vote for Macron "without hesitation".

Europe congratulates Macron