PARIS (AP) – From bucolic villages to humming cities, French voters on Sunday chose between two radically different futures for their country, with President Emmanuel Macron proposing centrist pro-European views if re-elected, while far-right Marine Le Pen promises seismic change for France and her allies if she becomes the country’s first female leader.
All this is happening against the background of the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to a sharp rise in prices for food, fuel and other basic necessities in France, a country of the European Union, which in recent years has witnessed heated protests over economic inequalities.
The biggest uncertainty was how the voters who backed the 10 other presidential candidates eliminated in the first round would vote this time – or even whether they would vote at all. The second round is a presidential run-off between the two well-known rivals, who also faced off in 2017.
Just three hours before the last polls closed, turnout was 63%, two points lower than five years ago.
Many French voters believe that the rematch in 2022 is less convincing than in 2017, when Macron was an unknown factor, as he had never held an elected office before. Left-wing voters – unable to identify with either the centrist president or Le Pen’s fierce nationalist platform – agonized Sunday’s election. Some were reluctant to go to the polls just to stop Le Pen, giving gloomy votes to Macron.
“It was the worst choice,” said Stephanie David, a transport logisticsman who backed a communist candidate in the first round.
This was an impossible choice for pensioner Jean-Pierre Roux. After also voting for communists in the first round, he dropped an empty envelope in Sunday’s ballot box, repulsed by both Le Pen’s policies and what he saw as Macron’s arrogance.
“I’m not against his ideas, but I can’t stand this man,” Roo said.
In his bid to become France’s first president in 20 years to win re-election, the 44-year-old Macron entered the poll with a significant lead in opinion polls, but failed to secure victory for a broken, anxious and tired electorate. The war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic shattered Macron’s first term, as well as months of violent protests against his economic policies.
The turmoil has created fertile ground for Le Pen, who is making his third attempt to become France’s first woman president. Leading an intensified campaign on the cost of living, she made a deep penetration among blue-collar voters, disgruntled rural communities and former industrial centers.
Even if 53-year-old Le Pen resigns from the presidential Elysee Palace, Sunday’s high result will still be a victory for the far right. Macron deftly defeated Le Pen in 2017 – 66% to 34% – but the result is expected to be closer this time.
So close that some voters felt compelled to go out on Sunday to block her ascent.
Marian Arbre, who voted in Paris, voted for Macron, “to avoid a government that turns out to be fascist, racist.”
“There is a real risk,” the 29-year-old worried.
As the only nuclear power in the European Union, the result in France was seen throughout the 27-nation bloc, which – with Russia’s war in Ukraine – is battling its worst security crisis since World War II. France plays a leading role in international efforts to punish Russia with sanctions and supplies weapons systems to Ukraine. Le Pen’s ties to Russia became a problem during the campaign, raising questions about how it would deal with the Kremlin if elected.
Nearly 49 million voters have the right to vote. Early results are expected on Sunday night.
Le Pen voted in the northern city of Henin-Beaumont, in the former industrial center of France.
“I’m calm,” she said. “I trust the French.”
Macron voted in the resort town of Le Touquet on the English Channel and gave his vote with a wink in front of the cameras.
Calling on working-class voters who are struggling with rising prices, Le Pen has promised that reducing the cost of living will be her priority if elected. She claims that Macron’s presidency has left the country deeply divided, citing the yellow vest protest movement that rocked his government before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Macron has sought to attract voters from immigrant backgrounds and religious minorities, especially because of Le Pen’s proposed policy of targeting Muslims and putting French citizens first for work and benefits.
Macron also highlighted his environmental and climate achievements to track young voters who backed left-wing candidates in the first round but were often ambiguous at best and at worst disgusted about the runoff match. Macron said his next prime minister will be in charge of environmental planning as France seeks to become carbon neutral by 2050.
Le Pen, once considered a skeptic of climate change, wants to cut off subsidies for renewable energy. She promised to dismantle wind farms and invest in nuclear and hydropower.
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Associated Press reporters Thomas Adamson and Elaine Ganley in Paris, Michelle Spingler in Henin-Beaumont and Alex Turnbull in Le Touquet.
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Follow the coverage of the French elections by the AP
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