French presidential election Le Pen

President Macron's camp is worried that high abstention rates could be used to question the legitimacy of a Macron win.

However, participation so far remains above the record trough of 21.40 percent in 2002. President Macron and Marine Le Pen are the clear front-runners among the 12 candidates, although Macron’s lead has significantly narrowed in recent days. Updated turnout numbers are expected at 5 p.m. local time.

Follow the latest updates as polls predict a tight first round finish between the president, Emmanuel Macron, and Marine Le Pen, from the far-right National ...

But there will be no certainty about what it all means until the first projections when polls close at 8pm - these are not, by the way, exit polls, but estimations based on actual votes cast in a representative selection of polling stations nationwide. Exactly a month ago, on 10 March, Emmanuel Macron - buoyed by a rally-round-the-flag effect following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - stood at about 30% and Marine Le Pen at about 18%, according to the Guardian’s election tracker. It’s hard to say at this stage who this might benefit. On the other hand, some of the detail in those midday turnout figures could be ringing a few alarm bells in the president’s camp: abstention looks to be higher in the Paris region, which was heavily pro-Macron in the last elections in 2017, whereas turnout in some areas that voted predminantly for Le Pen five years ago seems to be significantly higher. A low turnout is widely believed to be bad news for the far-right leader, because it could be a sign that her supporters, who often fail to show up on voting day in the kind of numbers that the polls predicted, may again be staying away. On average, the latest polls put the two on 26% and 23% respectively, a difference that is equivalent to many polling organisations’ margin of error.

Opinion polls published before a campaign blackout had Mr Macron coming out on top - but showed the far-right leader of National Rally was closing the gap.

Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Ms Le Pen has been honing in on the day-to-day grievances of average voters. The incumbent centrist president entered late into the campaign, with only one major rally that even his supporters found underwhelming. - Ban on wearing Muslim headscarves in all public spaces, a ban on building big mosques and on foreign financing of the Muslim faith - Keep the minimum retirement age at 62 and raise the minimum pension - Progressively raise the retirement age from 62 to 65 and boost the minimum monthly pension

Marine Le Pen is the main rival to President Emmanuel Macron, and although he continues to lead the opinion polls, several surveys suggest this now falls ...

"We are ready, and the French are with us," Ms Le Pen told cheering supporters on Thursday, urging them to cast a ballot for her to deliver "the fair punishment which those who have governed us so badly deserve". Midday figures put turnout at just 25.48%. Marine Le Pen is the main rival to President Emmanuel Macron, and although he continues to lead the opinion polls, several surveys suggest this now falls within the margin of error.

President Emmanuel Macron is expected to finish first, and may again face the far-right leader Marine Le Pen in the second round. After a muted campaign, ...

While all eyes have been focused on the swift rise of Ms. Le Pen, the far-right candidate, Mr. Mélenchon, 70, the leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, has witnessed a comeback in recent weeks. All with a view, Mr. Macron said, “to securing a cease-fire and then the total withdrawal of troops.” “The way he advertised himself in 2017 has very little to do with what has been done,” he added. Mr. Zelensky, to judge by a recent interview in The Economist, has been underwhelmed. He has pledged to stop immigration, even rejecting refugees from the war in Ukraine, and also proposed expelling immigrants as part of “remigration.” He failed to reposition himself, especially against his far-right rival, Marine Le Pen, and at under 10 percent in most polls, he is unlikely to make it past the first round on Sunday. The first months of the campaign were marked by polarized rhetoric on immigration and security — a characteristic that many residents in Melun deplored. France’s presidents — who have formidable powers at their disposal and set much of the country’s agenda — are elected directly by the people to five-year terms in a two-round voting system. At a time when revived nationalism had produced Brexit and the Trump presidency, he bet on a strong commitment to the European Union — and swept aside his opponents with an incisive panache. “I’m in favor of selective immigration, instead of the current situation where we have immigrants who are seeking to take advantage of the French system,” said Karl, who works in real estate. Many French people feel left out from the economic growth that Mr. Macron has delivered and are anxious about the violence in their neighborhoods. President Biden has repeatedly said the world is at an “inflection point” in the confrontation between autocracy and democracy.

President Emmanuel Macron is seeking reelection but faces a crowded field of rival candidates and a narrowing lead in the polls.

Macron is expected to come first today, and he’s polling ahead for the second round, but the gap with Le Pen has considerably narrowed. Her campaign, centered around the cost of living and economic hardship, struck a chord amid rocketing energy prices caused by the Ukraine war. The future of conservative party Les Républicains — stuck between Macron, Zemmour and Le Pen — is arguably in the balance, even more so if Valérie Pécresse scores under 10 percent. However, participation so far remains above the record trough of 21.40 percent in 2002. But out of his 11 challengers, only two were polling in double digits Friday. The French vote today in the first round of the presidential election.

France's incumbent leader Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen will qualify for a 24 April presidential election run-off, according to ...

To cheers of supporters chanting "We will win! We will win!," Ms Le Pen said she wanted to unite all French. The runoff "will be a choice of civilisation," she said, adding that her platform would protect the weak and make France independent. By contrast, Ms Le Pen toured towns and villages across France for months, focusing on cost-of-living issues that trouble millions and tapping into anger towards the political elite. But another far-right candidate Eric Zemmour will call on supporters to back Ms Le Pen, Marion Marechal - who is an ally of Mr Zemmour and Ms Le Pen's niece - told BFM TV. "So that France does not fall into hatred of all against all, I solemnly call on you to vote on April 24 against the far-right of Marine Le Pen," said Ms Hidalgo. Who next holds the Elysee Palace will depend on how those who backed Mr Macron and Ms Le Pen's rivals cast their ballots.

Weeks ago the president appeared sure to win a second term, but the gap narrowed significantly while he focused on the war in Ukraine and Ms Le Pen ...

She denies Mr Macron's allegations of racism. But after a late start to his campaign due to the war in Ukraine and Ms Le Pen's efforts to focus on the cost of living crisis at home, the gap in their ratings closed, with the National Rally candidate within the margin of error to achieve a victory for the first time. Weeks ago the president appeared sure to win a second term, but the gap narrowed significantly while he focused on the war in Ukraine and Ms Le Pen concentrated on issues at home.

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen appear to be the leading candidates in the first round of the French presidential elections, an analysis of early results ...

Surveys ahead of the race showed that a second round of Macron vs. While his ambitious plan to bolster the European Union's autonomy and geopolitical heft won him respect abroad and at home, he remains a divisive figure when it comes to domestic policies. Far-right political commentator turned presidential candidate Eric Zemmour, who enjoyed a seat among the top three candidates until March according to IFOP polling, came in at 7%. While Macron appears on track to win the first round, he is a polarizing figure whose approval rating has lagged during his first term. Macron is seeking to become the first French president to win reelection since Jacques Chirac in 2002. Twelve candidates were running for the top job.

A flurry of early projections and exit polls showed incumbent Macron came first with 28.1-29.5% of the vote, followed by Le Pen on 23.3-24.4%. The surging cost ...

Le Pen, seen as economically left-wing despite being very much affiliated with the far fight in France, has been highly focused on the cost of living. Support for Macron had jumped following Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and his mediation efforts earlier this year. Most of the mainstream candidates that failed to make the runoff immediately backed Macron after the exit polls came in, with Mélenchon telling his supporters there "must not be one single vote for Le Pen in the second round." But it's an issue that his opponent Le Pen, who heads up the anti-immigration National Rally party — leveraged significantly in her campaign. A flurry of early projections and exit polls showed incumbent Macron came first with 28.1-29.5% of the vote, followed by Le Pen on 23.3-24.4%. The different projections showed different tallies but all pointed toward a runoff between Macron and Le Pen in two weeks' time, with the gap between the two not as tight as some political analysts had been predicting. French leader Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine Le Pen topped the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, according to exit polls, and are set to face off in the final vote on April 24.

Centrist President Emmanuel Macron is seeking a second five-year term, but faces a strong challenge from the far right.

Russia's war in Ukraine has afforded Macron the chance to demonstrate his influence on the international stage and burnish his pro-NATO credentials in election debates. And as Putin carries on with the war in Ukraine, French power will help shape Europe's response. With war singeing the EU's eastern edge, French voters cast ballots in a presidential election whose outcome will have international implications. Macron trounced Le Pen by a landslide to become France's youngest modern president in 2017. They threatened to drive many voters into the arms of Le Pen, Macron's political nemesis. If borne out by official results, the two will advance to a presidential runoff on April 24 with strong echoes of their last face-off in the 2017 election.

As in 2017 and 2002, debate over whether leftwing voters should back centrist, stay home or not vote at all.

A Harris Interactive study examined possible second-round intentions to vote in a runoff between Macron and Le Pen. It found 34% of Mélenchon voters would vote for Macron and 21% Le Pen, but 45% would abstain or spoil their vote. Only 8% of Éric Zemmour voters would support Macron and 84% Le Pen, and only 8% would abstain. A key campaign moment in the next two weeks will be a debate between Macron, 44, and Le Pen, 53, which could sway undecided voters. I don’t want Emmanuel Macron and I don’t want Marine Le Pen. For me they’re the same.” “I think I will not vote in the second round,” he said. Many will be asking themselves whether to select what they consider the least bad option between the centrist Emmanuel Macron or far-right Marine Le Pen, or stay at home and not vote at all.

President Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen will progress into the second round of France's presidential election, according to exit ...

This is her third attempt at the presidency. They are directly elected, which means people vote for the candidate themselves - not their party. Vehemently anti-immigration and anti-Islam, the 63-year-old's pro-Russian views have also been a burden on him following the outbreak of war in Ukraine, with Ms Le Pen quick to disassociate herself with the Kremlin. Although unlikely to beat Ms Le Pen, the 70-year-old is a veteran of French politics and known for his divisive rhetoric. A far-left candidate for the New Anti-Capitalist Party, Philippe Poutou is a former Ford factory worker who made headlines for insulting his fellow candidates in the 2017 first round and refusing to take part in a joint photo. A key far-right figure, she is the daughter of the Jean-Marie Le Pen, who founded France's National Front and is notorious for his racist, anti-immigrant views. The new president is also tasked with electing a prime minister, to be in charge of the government, while they preside over the executive. There were 12 candidates in the first round of this year's election, ranging from the far-right to the far-left. Unlike in the UK, where the leader of the party with the most votes becomes prime minister. His main rival Marine Le Pen had climbed up the ratings and now poses a veritable challenge to Mr Macron's hopes of a second term in the Elysee with a projected 23.3% to 24.4% of the vote. If Ms Le Pen is elected, her far-right policies would mean huge changes for France and for the rest of Europe. French voters went go to the polls in the first round of France's 2022 presidential elections on Sunday.

We'll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest French presidential election news every morning. Emmanuel Macron and his far-right rival Marine ...

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron took first place, ahead of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, in the first round of France's presidential election on ...

His voters are expected to play a key role in the second round. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who came a strong, very close third in the election with more than 22 percent of the vote, managed to sweep up most of the country’s left-leaning votes. But the far right bloc — Marine Le Pen, Eric Zemmour and nationalist Nicolas Dupont-Aignan combined — garnered than 30 percent of the total vote. Both candidates scored higher than five years ago, leaving the traditional right and left in an even more shambolic state than before. Meanwhile, leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon fared better than expected and brings a heavy dose of uncertainty to the mix as his voters are a diverse bunch. Many are likely to abstain in the second round, while others will divide up between the French president and Le Pen.

Emmanuel Macron wins the first round, but the run-off against his far-right rival may be far closer.

She has built her campaign around the cost-of-living crunch facing much of Europe, promising to cut taxes and waive income tax for under-30s. But in the end, the spring sunshine meant turnout was not as low as feared, at almost 75%. Mr Macron's team is already planning a series of big rallies and major TV appearances. Ifop pollster François Dabi said his company's 51%-49% estimate was the closest they had ever predicted. Later in the evening, Mélenchon activists gathered outside his campaign HQ thinking he might even come second, but it was not to be. The battle for votes now starts in earnest.

Exit polls show Macron on about 28% of first-round vote and Le Pen on 23%

Extremist candidates won about 53 per cent of the vote. That is the choice you will make”. In the run-off, Mr Macron said, “We can choose a new epoch for France and Europe. We can make the choice of hope for France and Europe together.”

Will it be the first re-election of a president in 20 years, or third time lucky for his far-right opponent?

She would remove the right of children born in France to foreign parents to obtain French nationality in their teenage years. In 2018 Le Pen renamed the party the National Rally, seeking to get rid of the martial imagery and broaden its appeal. She has promised to renationalise motorways, scrap the TV licence fee and privatise public service broadcasting. During the Covid pandemic, he turned to state interventionism and vast public spending to protect companies and households, boasting of “nationalising wages”, which the public backed. He has promised to gradually raise the pension age from 62 to 65, an unpopular measure. He says that for the first time in 30 years, France is opening more factories that it is closing.

Critics warn she's changed her style but not her far-right values. This time though, Le Pen appears much more palatable to many voters.

But I've met Melenchon supporters who've already told me they would vote for Le Pen in a run-off. By making the cost of living her central theme, she appealed to a broader church of voters. It's now or never for her - and many in her party feel this is their moment.

French President Emmanuel Macron will face the far right's Marine Le Pen in a presidential run-off on April 24 after leading the first round on Sunday with ...

The two finalists will vie for France's top job in two weeks' time, on April 24. - Twelve candidates, from the far left to the far right, were on the ballot for the first round. - Some 48.7 million voters were called to the polls forSunday’s first round.

French president emerges in lead but tranche of far-right voters likely to transfer support to Le Pen.

Here, the far-right candidate appeared to be preaching to the converted, as just under 38% of the 871 people who voted locally chose her, and just under 22% Macron. Mélenchon has emerged as a potential kingmaker in third place after he rose to within a few points of Le Pen at just under 22% in a surprising 11th-hour surge. He also said he would “develop” his programme after listening to the “anger and despair” of those who had not voted for him, and particularly young people’s concerns over the environment. Others in the crowd that mobbed him as he walked around wanted to talk about the rising cost of living and concerns about jobs and health. We will be discussing how to revitalise our democracy and explain my manner of governing. “I want to convince our compatriots who voted for [Le Pen’s] the National Rally or who abstained to join us. Le Pen’s greatest support came from 50 to 59-year-old voters. More than 3.2 million voters who chose other far-right candidates including Éric Zemmour are likely to transfer their support to Le Pen. It was announced on Monday that Macron and Le Pen will go head-to-head in a televised debate four days before the vote, during which they will be questioned about their programmes. “We will be speaking about agriculture and being self-sufficient in production and inflation. But more than anger I am hearing worry.” “I see the divisions and anger in the country and I hear the voices of those who have voted for the extremes, even those who voted for Madame Le Pen,” he said.