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John Lichfield, a British journalist based in Paris, gives his assessment of how the pair are doing:

Macron has just raised Le Pen's legal troubles. Whatever the outcome of Sunday's election, she faces allegations that she defrauded the European Parliament of about €5m (£4m; $5.4m), EU sources said last week. The parliament suspects the money went to National Front (FN) assistants who were not really working for MEPs, but were engaged in FN party work in France. The allegations - denied by the FN - have now gone to French investigators. 

Read more: 

The ����ý's Gavin Lee feels for the moderators.

He wants the number of MPs to be rapidly reduced by a third.

The ����ý's Hugh Schofield in Paris gives us his evaluation of the proceedings so far:

This has got to go down as one of the great debates. The ones that people remember.

From Marine Le Pen, the aggression of the demagogue, the venom, the constant niggling remarks designed to get under her adversary’s skin.

And from Emmanuel Macron, the Cartesian rationality of the brilliant French technocrat.

There is not the slightest point of similarity between these two leaders. They are diametrical opposites. Their personalities clash;  their politics clash; they loathe each other.

It is a great service they are providing in this debate – because they are laying bare in all its stark newness the great division of our times: not between left and right, but between the nation and the world.

It is a debate which echoes far beyond the borders of France – which is why this fiery confrontation will go down in the annals.

"Schools have been ransacked by the socialists," she says.

She says university criteria should be based on merit, as selection at the moment is "like a lottery system".

She wants secularism to be promoted in all schools and universities. 

"The mother of battles is the primary school," he says.

Literacy rates are concerning and those who can't read and write will fail later in their education, he says.

He wants to tackle this and also wants measures including the reintroduction of Latin studies in college.

Finally he wants more apprenticeships - not all pupils will want to pursue further education, he says.

Image source, AFP

Macron:

• At the age of 18 French teenagers will get a "Cultural Pass" worth €500 to spend on cultural pursuits such as the cinema, theatre, books
• Ban children's use of mobile phones at school 

Le Pen:

• Prioritise teaching of French, history and maths 
• Restore school uniforms and respect for teachers

With 15 minutes to go, the discussion moves to education.  

Le Pen is asked for her views on Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

"Russia hasn’t show any hostility to France. I don’t care what the relationship between the US and Russia is." 

The ����ý's Gavin Lee tweets one of Le Pen's lines. Her implication is that Macron will submit to the German chancellor if he is elected. 

"France will be respected if it is France," she says.

"France has loss its specific voice because it is subservient to Germany, the US," she says.

How would Macron approach Presidents Trump and Putin?

He says he would keep working with Trump's America, he says. 

"We still have an independent voice but we need this strong cooperation for our security."

He also wants to work with Mr Trump on environmental issues.

As for the Russian president, Macron says Putin is "at the table on many issues". 

"But I will never submit to Putin's diktats," he says. "That's the big difference between me and Ms Le Pen." 

Now Macron and Le Pen are being asked about their foreign policy priorities beyond the EU. 

Image source, Reuters

French interests do not clash with German interests, Macron says.

Our real economic foe is China, he says.

“The savings of French people are under threat because of Europe,” says Le Pen.

She tries to present Macron as weak against German Chancellor Angela Merkel, implying that he will not stand up against her. 

Accused of adopting a subservient attitude to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Macron says he does indeed want a France that cooperates with Germany.

"Stop these ridiculous formulations," he says.

If you are just joining, we are into the last 30 minutes or so of France's furious final presidential debate. Centrist newcomer Emmanuel Macron has his comfortable lead in the opinion polls to conserve until Sunday. Marine Le Pen has to pull off a knockout blow if she has any chance of being elected for the far right. The gloves came off early and both contenders show no sign of flagging. Stray with us for soundbites, analysis and reaction.      

Image source, AFP

These Macron supporters have been watching from a bar in Paris.

Image source, EP

Macron hits back at allegations he is using fear to argue against leaving the euro.

On terrorism and other issues, it is Le Pen who uses fear to influence French voters, he says.