France on Sunday sent a strong signal to the extreme right by relegating Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the National Front, to a poor fourth place in the presidential election with 10.5 per cent of the vote.

It was the 78-year-old campaign veteran’s worst score in 33 years, and a significant setback to his party’s hopes after the victory of 2002 when he won through to the second round with 16.78 per cent of the vote.