Macron overtakes Le Pen in French election poll to lead for first time

Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron has emerged in pole position for the first round of voting in France's presidential election, edging ahead of National Front leader Marine Le Pen for the first time.

According to the new poll from Harrison Interactive, Macron holds a one-percentage point lead over the far-right Le Pen ahead of the primary vote on April 23.

Le Pen's share of the vote has not changed and she remains on 25% of the initial count, but after the release of Macron's manifesto he has gained ground to lead with a 26% share.

Former prime minister Francois Fillon has struggled to shake off allegations of corruption which claim that he paid his family members public money for non-existent work, and with a current share of 20% he would be eliminated in the first round of the vote.

Former investment banker Macron was also boosted on Wednesday after he received the backing of former mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoe. Delanoe was hugely popular among Parisians and said that he had to think hard about the decision to back the centrist candidate.

"In the first round, we have to give as much support as possible to the candidate who can beat Le Pen," Delanoe said.

"Particularly since Emmanuel Macron's manifesto appeared to me to contain real progressive measures for social justice and the struggle against inequality."

Macron's manifesto includes measures to protect the middle classes in France, who he has described as being mistreated by political parties from both sides of the spectrum.