French election: The battle between Macron and Le Pen culminates as voters go to the polls to choose a new president | World News
Five years after the last presidential election, France today opens polls with the same two candidates on the ballot.
Emmanuel Macronincumbent president, is resisting Marine Le Penleader of the Rassemblement National party.
They are candidates who are unlikely to offer greater contrasts – Mr. Macron from the center of politics; Ms. Le Pen with more radical opinions.
A man with a support background located in big cities and towns against a woman who relies on rural areas and small towns for the majority of support.
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Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 7 p.m., although some centers in major cities are allowed to stay open for an extra hour until 8 p.m.
Voting has been held in French overseas territories, while polling stations have also been set up in other countries with large French populations.
In England, there are 16 of them – six in London, six in the rest of England, three in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland.
After the clock ticked 8pm at France (7pm UK), exit polls will be released and an official rough estimate will be released shortly thereafter, based on initial figures.
In addition, new information will be published periodically, updating the overall results. A so-called “final” result won’t appear until Monday – although the identity of the winner could, of course, become clear before that.
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The mood in France before the election
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Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen emerged as the leaders after the first round of voting two weeks ago, when French voters were asked to choose between a field of 12 candidates.
They have since spent two weeks campaigning around the country on a range of topics, although both candidates have focused heavily on how France can best deal with the costs. activities are increasing.
There is also a significant focus on foreign affairs, immigration and social cohesion. In all of those areas, there are notable differences between Mr. Macron and Ms. Le Pen.
The two have only clashed openly once, when they met face-to-face during a televised debate watched by 15.6 million people.
That is the lowest number ever recorded for a live French presidential election debate, but still represents a much larger audience than comparable debates held in the UK. Brother.
Macron greets people on the beach near his home in the northern seaside town of Le Touquet
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There will be a lot of attention this time around, with a lot of speculation that voters will stay away because they don’t particularly like any candidate.
Others say they feel obligated to go to the polls, but will just leave their ballot blank – the so-called abstention.
And the question is what will happen to the more than 20 million people who supported the socialist candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon in the first round, when he finished third.
Will they endorse the remaining radical, Ms. Le Pen, or instead choose to support the president, despite familiar claims that he has done more to help the rich than the needy. Economic?
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Mr Macron will vote near his home in the northern seaside town of Le Touquet before heading to Paris.
Ms Le Pen will also cast her ballot in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, before traveling to the capital to hear the results.
She and her team will be stationed at a location called Pavillon d’Armenonville, on the edge of the Bois de Boulogne. Mr. Macron’s team is creating their own setting on Champ-de-Mars, near the Eiffel Tower.
Ms. Le Pen and Mr. Macron are both seasoned politicians, but their views on what to do with the presidency are very different. Both have been planning this election, preparing for this decisive day, and both want to win, desperately.
But only one can. By the time Sunday turns to Monday, one of them will be given a five-year mandate to run this rich, powerful and influential country. And the other will miss an opportunity, and wonder if their political career is over.
