FILE PHOTO: French President Francois Hollande exits a voting booth before casting his ballot in the first round of the 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Tulle, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Georges Gobet/Pool

PARIS (Reuters) - French President Francois Hollande called on voters to back centrist Emmanuel Macron in the second round of the presidential election, warning of dangerous consequences if far-right candidate Marine Le Pen were to win.

“The presence of the far-right in the second round is a risk for the country,” Hollande said in a televised address.

“What is at stake is France’s make-up, its unity, its membership of Europe and its place in the world.”

He said he would vote for his former economy minister, because he was best placed to unite the people of France.