(Source: CGTN)

Polls show centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen level in the first round of voting in France's presidential election.

Both candidates were said to have received 23 percent of votes. Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon ranked in third place with 19.5 percent, with conservative Francois Fillon coming fourth with 19 percent, in what is France's closest and most unpredictable presidential race in decades.

Fillon had been seen as the early favorite, but has lost support in recent months after a scandal over having employed his wife as his parliamentary assistant.