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French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is “temporarily” stepping down as leader of the National Front party.

It appeared to be an attempt to distance herself from the racist element of her party and appeal to a wider range of potential voters.

The party leader last night came second in the first round of the French Presidential election, putting her through to the final run-off next week.

In a dramatic announcement on the live prime time France 2 television news broadcast at 8pm, the 48-year-old said: "It is essential to take leave of the National Front, and this evening I am no longer the president of the National Front.

"I am only the presidential candidate – I will feel more free, and above partisan considerations."

She said she wanted to use her candidacy to "unite all French people".

(Image: AFP)

She's the daughter of Jean Marie Le Pen, who founded the National Front and was its leader from 1972 until 2011.

France's political establishment has untied in opposition to Le Pen overnight. Incumbent president Francois Hollande urged voters to back centrist Emmanuel Macron in a bid to block Le Pen's nationalists from power.

It comes amid a nail-biting election campaign - one of the tightest and least predictable in decades.

Five candidates - Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron plus conservative Francois Fillon, socialist Benoit Hamon and hard-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon - were in close contention for the top two spots in tonight’s poll.

Centrist Macron was in first place with 23% of the vote, with Le Pen close behind on 21.6%, according to early results.

Francois Fillon was in third place on 19%, neck-and-neck with socialist candidate Jean-Luc Melanchon.

The two winners from tonight will got on to a second poll, to take place in two weeks time, which will decide the final winner.