Sunday's contest has implications for the spread of far-right ideology, France's relationship with the rest of Europe and the country's posture toward Russia.
During a stop on his European tour, Bannon told a conference of the far-right National Front party in France, "Let them call you xenophobes. Let them call you nativists. Wear it as a badge of honor."
The French president says that during elections, the law would allow the government to block content deemed to be fake news and would force news websites to disclose their source of funding.
The leader of the far-right National Front party, who made an unsuccessful bid for the French presidency, is alleged to have made fraudulent payments for party work.
Among 18- to 24-year-olds, Marine Le Pen is by far the No. 1 candidate, with 40 percent of the vote — a startling shift for a country that's traditionally known for its leftist youth movements.
Members of the European Parliament voted to strip the French far-right presidential candidate of immunity from prosecution. She is being investigated for posting images of violence by members of ISIS.
Conservative candidate Francois Fillon and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen are both accused of misusing public funds. Fillon allegedly hired his wife for what was essentially a sham position.
France's far-right National Front party has never had a real chance at the presidency. But the rise of populist nationalism has encouraged the party's candidate, Marine Le Pen.
Fillon defeated the more moderate Alain Juppé. Fillon will face candidates from the left and the extreme right in the French presidential election next May.
Europe's far-right politicians were quick to congratulate Donald Trump. Populist parties across Europe share his views, and analysts warn they will be emboldened by his win.
Marine Le Pen, the head of the far-right National Front party, has been cleared of charges that she incited hatred when she compared Muslim street prayers to the Nazi occupation.
If the party can solidify the gains in the second round of voting next Sunday, it will position leader Marine Le Pen as a formidable candidate in the 2017 presidential election.
!["I'm getting echoes that a large proportion of voters – maybe 50 percent – could be tempted to vote for [Marine] Le Pen," says Mayor Philippe Hamon, who represents a small, center-right party. Hamon says it's a worrying sign.](https://knpr.org/sites/default/files/public/styles/thumbnail/public/images/npr-story/520023901_2004414849.jpg?itok=Sgs5nLAc "Eleanor Beardsley, NPR")
