Marine Le Pen vs. Emmanuel Macron: French candidates couldn't be more different

"A Macron victory would break the political mould of the Fifth Republic. Since 1958 France has been ruled by presidents who hail from the mainstream parties of left or right," said Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, a think-tank.

Macron wants to invest in public health and infrastructure, cut corporate tax rates and modernize workplace rules in a country that cherishes its time off. The "Macron Law" is a bill he introduced as economy minister that allowed more stores to open on Sundays. His victory would represent a repudiation of a continent-wide backlash against Muslim immigration and European unity. "The surge of support for Emmanuel Macron in France shows that liberal, pro-EU centrists may yet have a future in European politics. This would be good for the EU," Grant said.