An equation with two unknowns: How newspapers reacted to Macron and Le Pen wins in first round of French election

Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-Right populist Marine Le Pen advanced Sunday to a runoff in France's presidential election, remaking the country's political landscape and setting up a showdown over its participation in the European Union.

Sunday's outcome is a huge defeat for the centre-right and centre-left that have dominated French politics for 60 years, and also reduces the prospect of an anti-establishment shock on the scale of Britain's vote last June to quit the European Union and the election of Donald Trump as US president in November.

French politicians on the left and right immediately urged voters to block Ms Le Pen's path to power in the May 7 runoff, saying her virulently nationalist anti-EU and anti-immigration politics would spell disaster for France.

Here is how newspapers in France and around the world reacted to the results.

Le Figaro (France)

Newspaper Le Figaro says " Right KO" on its front page. The paper says that the elimination of Conservative François Fillon followed by revolutionary Leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon constitutes an "historic defeat" for the Right.

Le Parisien (France)

French daily newspaper Le Parisien features a large photograph of the Centrist candidate and an headline reading "The Macron sensation".

Three smaller headlines split up the candidates in "the winner", "the finalist" and "the losers". 

Libération (France)

Left-leaning national newspaper Libération says "Presidential election: at one step", playing on the name of Mr Macron's movement En Marche! (On the Move).

The leading newspaper goes on to say that as Ms Le Pen and Mr Macron progress to the second round Mr Fillon and Mr Mélenchon were "tail-to-tail" leaving Socialist Benoît Hamon far behind. "The calls to block FN (Front National) multiply".

L'Humanité (France)

Left wing daily L'Humanité says "never" over a photograph of Marine Le Pen on its Monday front page. The former Communist party paper goes on to say "let's come together" against the far-Right candidate. 

La Dépêche du Midi (France)

La Dépêche du Midi, a regional daily published in Toulouse, writes "the duel" over a split image of Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron on its Monday front page.

Le Soir (Belgium)

Belgium's leading French-language newspaper Le Soir features a photograph of a smiling Emmanuel Macron with the play on words "On the move to the Élysée".

Le Temps (Switzerland)

Swiss newspaper Le Temps in Geneva says "An equation with two unknowns" on its front page pointing out that with the two traditional parties "dismissed" France finds itself in an unprecedented situation.

El Mundo (Spain)

Spanish newspaper El Mundo says "Macron shaping up to be the next French president". It goes on to say that Ms Le Pen and Mr Macron are in a "virtual tie" while the "hegemonic parties of the Fifth Republic have been punished."

La Repubblica (Italy)

Italy's La Repubblica features the election prominently on its front page saying: "Macron-Le Pen, Europe at stake". 

La Stampa (Italy)

Italian daily La Stampa says "The duel which transforms France".

The Daily Telegraph (UK)

The Guardian (UK)

The Times (UK)

Daily Mail (UK)

City AM (UK)

 Financial Times 

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