Irish shares join sell-off on far right prospects in French vote

Finance minister Bruno Le Maire issues warning

French finance minister Bruno Le Marie. French shares as tracked by the Cac 40 index fell sharply on Friday and ended the week 3% lower. 

Irish shares joined in a Europe-wide sell-off as French finance minister Bruno Le Maire warned the eurozone's second-biggest economy faced the risk of a financial crisis if the far right were to win snap elections in the coming weeks.

Opinion polls project Marine Le Pen's eurosceptic National Rally, or RN, which has promised to cut electricity prices, Vat on gas, and increase public spending, is on track to top the June 30 and July 7 vote after winning European Parliament elections.