Official campaign posters of French presidential candidates Marine Le Pen, leader of the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) party, and French President Emmanuel Macron, his re-election candidate, were displayed on an official billboard in Montchevre, France on April 20. 2022. REUTERS / Benoit Tessier
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- The first results are estimated at 18:00 GMT
- Macron with a slightly growing lead in sociological research
- Choice between pro-European centrist, far-right Eurosceptic
PARIS, April 24 (Reuters) – The French began voting Sunday in an election that will decide whether pro-European President Emmanuel Macron will retain his post or be ousted by far-right Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen, a political earthquake.
Opinion polls in recent days have given Macron a solid and slightly growing lead, as analysts say Le Pen – despite her efforts to soften her image and soften some of her National Rally’s policies – remains unpopular with many.
But a surprise victory for Le Pen could not be ruled out, given the large number of voters who have not decided or are unsure whether they will vote in the presidential run-off at all.
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As opinion polls show that none of the candidates can count on enough committed supporters, much will depend on a group of voters who assess their concerns about the effects of the far-right presidency on the anger over Macron’s record after his 2017 election.
If Le Pen still wins, it will likely carry the same sense of stunning political cataclysm as Britain’s vote to leave the European Union or Donald Trump’s 2016 US election.
Polling stations open at 8 a.m. (6:00 a.m. GMT) and close at 8:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. GMT). Initial forecasts by sociologists are expected immediately after the election.
In Douai, a medium-sized city in northern France where Le Pen overtook Macron in the first round of voting two weeks ago, pensioner Andre Leyet, 69, said she voted for Macron, as she did on April 10th.
“He has his shortcomings, but he also has qualities. He is best in the position to continue, we live in difficult times, “she said.
Macron, 44, a winner of the same match five years ago, warned of a “civil war” if Le Pen, whose policy includes banning the wearing of Muslim headscarves in public, was elected and called on Democrats in every way to support him.
Le Pen, 53, is focusing her campaign on rising living costs in the world’s seventh-largest economy, which many French say say has deteriorated with soaring global energy prices. She also turned to Macron’s crude leadership style, which she said showed elitist contempt for ordinary people.
“The question on Sunday is simple: Macron or France,” she told a rally in the northern city of Aras on Thursday.
Among those who voted early in the village of Sui, near the northwestern city of Le Mans, civil servant Pascal Pauloan, 56, said he voted for Le Pen out of frustration with Macron.
“Honestly, I’m very disappointed. Our France hasn’t worked well for years. Macron has done nothing for the middle class, and the gap with the rich is getting bigger,” he said.
Le Pen, who has also been criticized by Macron for her past admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has denied accusations of racism. She said her plans to give priority to French citizens for social housing and jobs and to eliminate a number of social benefits for foreigners would benefit all French people, regardless of their religion or origin.
Jean-Daniel Levy of Harris Interactive polls said opinion polls show that Le Pen is unlikely to win because it will require major changes in voter intentions.
If Macron wins, he will face a difficult second term, without the grace period he enjoyed after his first victory, and likely protests against his plan to continue reforms in favor of business, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 65. years.
If she removes him, Le Pen will seek to make radical changes in France’s domestic and international politics, and street protests could begin immediately. Shock waves will be felt throughout Europe and beyond.
Whoever comes to the top will face the first major challenge in winning the June parliamentary elections to secure a working majority to carry out their programs.
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Additional reports by Michelle Rose, Lee Thomas, Juliet Jabhiro and Gus Tropmiz; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Edited by Mark John, Francis Carey and Raisa Kasolowski
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