France's Female Donald Trump takes a MASSIVE Lead over Sarkozy in the French Presi. Polls

FRONT National leader Marine Le Pen has taken a sizeable lead over Nicolas Sarkozy in a new French presidential election poll.



The far-right leader had 29 per cent of the vote when pitted against Les Républicains' former president, who was eight points behind, and held a 15-point lead over the Parti de Gauche's Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the poll released by Ipsos.



It was one of five scenarios for the first round of France's 2017 presidential elections on 23 April, although one that did not include Les Républicains' Alain Juppé - who remains strong favourite to succeed Francois Hollande as leader.



While Mr Juppé holds leads of between 4 and 7 per cent in three other scenarios including him, the results are likely to add to growing fears that the rise of global populism could see Ms Le Pen secure a surprise victory in the wake of the UK's Brexit vote and Donald Trump's US election win.



Under the French election system, barring the unlikely possibility one candidate gains an overall majority in the first round vote, the two candidates with the most votes will contest a second and decisive round on 7 May.



Second round opinion polls have consistenly given Mr Juppé a significant lead over Ms Le Pen.



It came as leading French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy warned people had lost interest in whether politicians tell the truth, in a development he said could set the Front National on course to occupy the Élysée Palace.



"If Trump is possible, then everything is possible. Nothing, from now on, is unimaginable," Mr Lévy told The Telegraph.