An Elabe poll showed the centrist Emmanuel Macron winning the first round of the election with 24 percent of the votes, closely followed by the far-right leader Marine Le Pen with 23 percent. Not far behind came the conservative Francois Fillon with 19.5 percent and the far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon with 18 percent.
The projections indicate that the first round will be closely disputed as any two could make it into the final round on May 7th.
Over the Easter break, frontrunner Macron denied allegations of impropriety, saying he did not have offshore accounts or a hidden inheritance. The reports could damage his chances less than a week to go until the first round.
Fillon, the conservative candidate, was ahead in polls a couple of months ago, before authorities began investigating him for alleged misuse of public funds. Far-right leader Le Pen has also been involved in allegations of misused funds, though her polling figures were not hurt.
JP Morgan said Thursday that Macron is likely to win the French election even though the race has tightened in recent days.
