FAR RIGHT CHASES VICTORY

French far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen said Thursday she had never been “so close” to power at a jubilant final rally before this weekend’s election, which polls suggest is an increasingly tight battle between her and President Emmanuel Macron.

In front of around 4000 upbeat supporters chanting “President Marine!” and “We’re going to win!”, Le Pen promised to help French families struggling with inflation and compared Macron to a “stunned boxer”.

“Never before has the prospect of a real change been so close, but it depends on you,” Le Pen told the crowd in far-right stronghold Perpignan in southern France.

Last month, polls suggested Macron had an almost unassailable lead heading into the first round and would go on to win the second-round run-off scheduled for April 24.