France's Montebourg seen as winner of first left-wing primary debate -poll

French politician Arnaud Montebourg attends the first prime-time televised debate for the French left's presidential primaries in La Plaine Saint-Denis, near Paris, France, January 12, 2017. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

PARIS (Reuters) - Former Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg was seen as marginally winning the first French left-wing primary television debate on Thursday, raising the prospect of a tight race to select the Left's candidate for the 2017 presidential election.

The winner of the primary at this stage has little prospect of topping the April-May presidential vote with all the leading candidates - conservative Francois Fillon, far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen and independent former Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron - all well ahead.