Le Pen on the other hand made some impressive gains in South West rural France; in Corrèze, her support increased from a third of voters five years ago to just under 50 per cent today, the largest per cent increase in the country.

Looking forward, the far-right will eye up this area as potentially fertile ground.  

But Macron will also be shaken by the sheer lack of enthusiasm for the process as a whole. 

The election also saw the lowest turnout since 1969, with voters turned off by the two candidates on offer. 

For many people who did turn out for Macron, the decision was not so much an endorsement as it was to stop Le Pen, according to polling agency Ifop.