Only a few weeks ago, it appeared almost guaranteed that the French electorate would vote for a face off between National Front Leader Marine Le Pen and independent candidate Emmanuel Macron.

But as Sunday‘s first round of voting draws ever closer, the political whirlwind that is far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon appears to be gathering speed.
Will Le Pen ease through? Can Macron persuade voters he‘s got a plan? Or will the left-wing firebrand Mélenchon cause widespread shock?