Iran Press/Europe: France began voting in a presidential runoff election on Sunday, with incumbent Emmanuel Macron facing his rival Marine Le Pen.
Turnout for Sunday’s runoff was 26.41% at midday, nearly two points lower than in 2017, when it stood at 28.23%, Euronews reported.
The figure also marks a decline compared to the second round of voting in 2012 (30.66%) and 2007 (34.11%).
The result of voting in France, a nuclear-armed nation with one of the world’s biggest economies, could affect the entire European continent, but also impact the conflict in Ukraine, as France has played a key role in diplomatic efforts and support for sanctions against Russia.
Much will depend Sunday on how many people out of the 48.8 million eligible voters turn out at the polling stations, which will close at 7 pm CET in most of the country, while some will remain open until 8 pm in major urban areas.
The first preliminary results can be expected at 8 pm, as the electoral authorities publish a projection based on select polling stations chosen as representative of France.
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