France has voted in a second round of presidential elections between incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and far-right politician Marine Le Pen.
Mr Macron, the current president, is facing Ms Le Pen, leader of the National Unity Party, and both were photographed voting on Sunday.
They are candidates who could hardly bring more contrast – Mr Macron from the center of politics; Mrs Le Pen with more radical views.
Image: President Emmanuel Macron votes in a polling station in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage Image: Marin Le Pen launches his ballot in Henin-Beaumont
A man whose support lies in cities and big cities against a woman who relies on rural and small towns for much of her support.
Watch Sky News from 5pm while Sophie Ridge broadcasts live French election results
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
6:44 Macron vs. Le Pen – What’s different about this French election?
Explanatory note: How right is Marin Le Pen? An analysis of its policy yields some surprising conclusions
Polling stations opened at 8 am local time (7 am British time) and will close at 7 pm, although some centers in major cities are allowed to remain open for another hour until 8 pm.
Turnout by noon (11 am British time) was 26.41% – lower than at the same time in 2017 (when it was 28.23%), but higher than the first round of this year’s election two years ago weeks when it was 25.48%.
Voting has already taken place in France’s overseas territories, while polling stations have been set up in other countries with significant French populations.
In Britain there are 16 – six in London, six in the rest of England, three in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.
After the clock strikes after 20:00 in France (19:00 in the UK), exit polls will be published and will be followed shortly by an official preliminary assessment based on early censuses.
In addition, new information will be released periodically, updating the overall result. The so-called “final” result will not appear until Monday – although the identity of the winner may, of course, become apparent before then.
Image: Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen were both on the ballot in the last presidential election five years ago
Eyewitness: Macron laid the charm on the last day of the campaign as Le Pen struggled to reduce the poll gap
Mr Macron and Mrs Le Pen emerged as favorites after the first round of voting two weeks ago, when French voters were asked to choose between 12 candidates.
Since then, they have spent two weeks campaigning across the country on a number of topics, although both candidates have placed a strong focus on how France can best cope with rising living costs.
There was also a significant focus on foreign affairs, immigration and social cohesion. There are noticeable differences between Mr Macron and Mrs Le Pen in all these areas.
Please use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:01 Mood in France before the election
The two clashed in public only once, when they met face to face in a televised debate that was watched by 15.6 million people.
This is the lowest figure ever recorded for a debate on the French presidential election, but it still represents a much larger audience than the equivalent debate held in the United Kingdom.
Image: Mr Macron greets people on the beach near his home in the northern seaside town of Le Touquet
Macron vs. Le Pen: Competing visions that will shape the future of France and Europe
This time, a lot of attention will be paid to the turnout, with a lot of speculation that voters will stay away because they don’t particularly like any of the candidates.
Others say they feel obligated to attend polling stations, but will simply leave their ballot blank – the so-called white ballot.
And then the question arises as to what will happen to the more than 20 million people who backed Socialist candidate Jean-Luc Melanchon in the first round when he finished third.
Will they support the remaining radical, Mrs Le Pen, or will they choose to support the president instead, despite well-known claims that he has done too much to help the rich and not the economically deprived?
Follow the daily podcast of Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Ms. Le Pen and her team will be based at a place called the Pavillon d’Armenonville, at the end of the Bois de Boulogne. Macron’s team created their own setting on the Champ-de-Mars, near the Eiffel Tower.
Mrs Le Pen and Mr Macron are experienced, time-worn politicians, but their views on what to do with the presidency are very different. They have both planned this election, they are preparing for this crucial day and they both want to win, desperately.
But only one can. Until Sunday is Monday, one of them will be given a five-year term to rule this rich, powerful and influential country. And the other will regret the missed opportunity and wonder if their political career is over.
Add Comment