France Decides: Macron email hack, is there Russian involvement?

When asked whether Russia was involved in the Macron email hack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "These, like other similar accusations, are based on nothing and are pure slander."

Russian officials have vehemently denied interfering in elections and have said they have no preferred candidate in the French vote.

Macron's party chief, Richard Ferrand, accused Russia of trying to influence the election by spreading "fake news" about the candidate through its state-controlled media while reporting more favorably on Le Pen.

Russia has good reasons to support Le Pen.

Her anti-Europe and anti-NATO stance are perfectly aligned with Russian interests, and she has consistently called for closer ties with President Vladimir Putin.

She has also expressed a desire to roll back European Union sanctions on Russia after Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, which she has described as "unfair and silly."

It is a stance that contrasts markedly with Macron, a pro-EU, pro-integration candidate who has said he would keep sanctions on Russia in place, if not add to them.