Macron's popularity in France has risen as a result of his interventions in the Ukraine conflict

French President Emmanuel Macron Image Credit Reuters

Macron's popularity in France has risen as a result of his interventions in the Ukraine conflict.

According to a poll released on Saturday by Le Monde, French President Emmanuel Macron's lead over rival candidates ahead of next month's election has strengthened in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Macron received 30.5 % of the vote in the first round of voting on April 10, up from 26.5 % a week earlier, according to a Sopra Steria poll.

Marine Le Pen of the far-right Rassemblement National was Macron's closest competitor in the first round, with 14.5 % of the vote, compared to 15.5 % last week.

Macron is expected to defeat Le Pen by 59 percent to 41 percent in the second and final vote, which is scheduled on April 24.

Macron has been at the forefront of European efforts to de-escalate the Ukraine situation. Last month, he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and he has spoken with both Putin and US President Joe Biden in an attempt to resolve the problem.

Russia's invasion has put Macron's far-right opponents on the defensive to force Le Pen and Eric Zemmour who are generally Russophiles to justify their past backing for Putin.

Macron announced his re-election campaign earlier this week, saying he was running to protect France's ideals, which he said were threatened by "the world's disorders."

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