FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Emmanuel Macron, who currently leads the French presidential polls before tomorrow's first-round vote, has pledged to bring the European bloc closer together. During a rally in Nantes this week, he raised the EU flag before telling the crowd that it was "an honour" to fly the emblem. He then appeared to insinuate that France was nothing before joining the European Union. The centrist politician, who is a former investment banker, attacked the Front National's leader Marine Le Pen for refusing to be interviewed with the EU flag in the background.

GETTY The French will vote tomorrow in the first round of the country’s presidential election

As he lifted up the flag, Mr Macron told his cheering supporters: "We are one of these stars. Never forget, because so many died for that. “I know what France was before this flag. It was a valley of tears." The leading candidate, who has on a europhile platform, claimed that before the European Union was established, the continent was ravaged by war. This comes after his far-right rival Mrs Le Pen refused to be interviewed next to the European emblem. She refused to appear on France's TF1 television channel on Tuesday unless the EU's yellow-starred blue flag was removed. The anti-EU leader told the journalists that she was campaigning to be the president of France, "not the European Commission".

TWITTER Emmanuel Macron currently leads the latest French presidential polls

GETTY Mrs Le Pen promises to shake up and destroy the European Union

I's my honour to fly the EU flag with you all tonight Emmanuel Macron

In response, the European Commission tweeted: "Proud of our flag, a symbol of unity, solidarity and harmony between the people of Europe. Let's not hide it." Mrs Le Pen's deputy Florian Philippot fired back at the tweet: "You'll see, we'll soon be sticking your oligarchic rag in the cupboard." The French will vote tomorrow in the first round of the country’s presidential election. The latest opinion polls suggest Mrs Le Pen and Mr Macron are expected to make it to the May 7 runoff.

GETTY The latest opinion polls suggest Mrs Le Pen and Mr Macron are expected to make it to the runoff