French President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen have qualified for the runoff of France"s presidential election. Several candidates called on their supporters to vote against the far-right in the runoff election on April 24. Turnout was at 65% at 5:00 p.m., nearly five points lower than in the last election in 2017, when it was 69.42% at the same time. Participation was estimated to be at 71%, according to AFP. “We can choose France and Europe together,” said Macron after coming first in the first round of the presidential election. Earlier, Macron called everyone to vote for him to “block the far-right” saying that he understood that some would vote for him in the runoff even though they do not support him. He said that it was not yet won but that his project was the choice of both France and Europe. Communist candidate Fabien Roussel warns the far-right is at the gates of power. “Our country is facing a terrible situation: The far right is at the gates of power, and the candidate president has a great responsibility in this situation,” he said. “Macron must give up on senseless reforms: he must withdraw his plan to extend retirement,” Roussel tweeted. In another statement, Belgian MEP Guy Verhofstadt said, “Two weeks to keep Putin’s allies away from the Elysée. He said, the real battle has only begun in the French elections. “2 weeks to keep Putin’s allies away from the Elysée,” he said, referring to Marine Le Pen. “2 weeks to strengthen liberté, égalité, fraternité against authoritarianism and hatred!” Also Greens candidate Yannick Jadot called on his supporters to vote for Macron to "stop the far-right". Former Italian interior minister Matteo Salvini congratulated far-right leader Marine Le Pen on her qualification for France"s runoff presidential election in two weeks. “We are happy about your success and proud of your work,” said Salvini, a far-right lawmaker. Also far-right television pundit Eric Zemmour called on his supporters to vote for Le Pen. He said that he had put in his candidacy because he thought that the country is in danger. Alexis Corbière, the spokesman for Jean-Luc Mélenchon, said there were now three major political forces in France. He added that far-left leader Mélenchon, who finished third, could have been in the second round. “I want to thank all those who voted for us, we must now stay together,” he said. Corbière once again called on left-wing voters not to vote for Le Pen. Mélenchon told his supporters several times that they should not give a single vote to far-right candidate Le Pen. He added that they would decide what to choose for the country. He said that it was the human condition to be confronted with decisions that are difficult to make. He said, “As long as life continues, the fight continues” despite the disappointment: “I never let go, I never gave in, so now it"s up to you,” he said. In a message to younger people, and in what appeared to indicate this would be his last presidential election, he said the election result was not far but that they could “do better”. — Euronews