Poll shows gap between Le Pen, Macron as turnout is seen at historic low

FILE PHOTO: A combination picture shows portraits of the two candidates running for the second round in the 2022 French presidential election, Marine Le Pen, leader of French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) party, and French President Emmanuel Macron, candidate for his re-election. Pictures taken February 5, 2022 (L) and April 2, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

(Corrects headline to show turnout, not abstention, is seen at historic low)

(Reuters) - France's far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is closing the gap with President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the second round of the country's presidential election, a poll showed on Tuesday as forecast voter turnout is seen declining further.

The OpinionWay-Kea Partners poll published by Les Echos and Radio Classique showed Le Pen narrowing the gap by one point, though Macron would still win the run-off with 54% of the vote.

The poll's turnout estimate further declined by 1% to 70%, down from 74.56% in 2017, which was already the lowest since 1969.

(This story corrects headline to show turnout, not abstention, is seen at historic low)

(Reporting by Sarah Morland , editing by Tassilo Hummel)