In France, the second round of presidential elections began at 8 am. Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and leader of the National Unity party Marine Le Pen will compete there. Polling stations will be open until 18:00, and in large cities – until 20:00. After they close, the preliminary results of the elections will be announced.
According to the polls, the incumbent is the favorite. Polls give him about 53-56 percent. support. 43-47 percent want to vote for Le Pen. items.
About 70,000 polling stations will be open from 8:00 to 19:00. In major cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon, the voting time has been extended to 20.
Residents of French overseas territories will vote from Saturday. In France, the president is elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term, renewable once. The winner must obtain an absolute majority of the votes cast in one or two rounds, regardless of turnout.
Elections in France. Result of the first round
The first round of elections was held on 10 April. Macron won it with a score of 27.85 percent. ahead of Le Pen, who scored 23.15 percent. votes. The turnout was 73.69 percent. and was the lowest since the 2002 presidential election, when 71.6 percent of the vote was cast at the ballot box. the French who have the right to vote.
Also participating in the first round were: Trotskyist Natalie Artaud (Lutte Ouvriere), communist Fabien Roussel (French Communist Party), member of the local government Jean Lassalle (Resistons!), right-wing columnist Eric Zemmour (Rekonkwista), far left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon (France), Nieharzmiona), Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo (Socialist Party), Green Coalition leader Yannick Jadot (Europe-Ecology-Greens), Republican Valerie Pecresse (Republicans), anti-capitalist Philippe Putou (New Anti-Capitalist Party) and sovereignist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan (Debout France ).