PARIS – Voter turnout is lower than usual in France’s presidential runoff Sunday, apparently reflecting voter frustration with both candidates, centrist President Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen.
According to the Interior Ministry, 63% was present in Paris at 5 pm (1500 GMT) on Friday. This was less than the 65% turnout in the 2017 presidential runoff when Macron defeated Le Pen overwhelmingly, and the 72% when Socialist Francois Hollande won the presidency in 2012.
Polls before Sunday’s election gave Macron a solid lead over Le Pen, but to keep it he needs the support of many left-wing voters who shunned both him and Le Pen in the first-round election on April 10. Many of those voters may opt to stay home instead.
The projections of the polling agency and early results of the official poll are expected to be available after the French final voting stations close at 8 p.m. (1800 GMT).
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