Far-right leader Marine Le Pen says she has secured the support of the 500 elected officials necessary to stand in the French presidential election, reports BBC News.
The National Front candidate, who is third in the opinion polls, said last week she was struggling to find enough endorsements to enable her to stand.
The latest poll, by Ifop, puts President Nicolas Sarkozy ahead for the first time in the campaign.
But it gives Socialist rival Francois Hollande victory in the second round.
According to the poll, for Europe 1 and Paris Match, Mr Sarkozy would win 28.5% of the vote in the first round on 22 April, while Mr Hollande gets 27% and Ms Le Pen 16%. Centrist candidate Francois Bayrou is on 13%.
But it suggested that Mr Hollande would win the second round in May by a
Read more of this report from BBC News.