Early projections indicate that Centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen are set to face each other in a May 7 runoff.

France's polling commission has issued a warning over a Russian news report suggesting conservative candidate Francois Fillon leads the race for the presidency.

French President Francois Hollande announced Thursday that he would not seek a second term in next year's election, saying he hoped to give his party a chance to win "against conservatism and extremism".