Official election posters of French presidential candidate Marine le Pen, leader of the far-right French party National Rally (Rassemblement National), and French President Emmanuel Macron, candidate for his re-election, are displayed on an official billboard in Montchevreuil, France on April 20th, 2022 . REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
- First earnings estimates around 1800 GMT
- Macron with a slightly increasing lead in opinion polls
- Choice between pro-European centrists and far-right Eurosceptics
PARIS, April 24 – The French began voting on Sunday in an election that will decide whether pro-European Union President Emmanuel Macron keeps his job or is ousted by far-right Eurosceptic Marine Le Pen, which is on would result in a political earthquake.
Opinion polls in recent days gave Macron a solid and slightly growing lead as analysts said Le Pen – despite efforts to soften her image and tone down some of her National Rally Party’s policies – has remained unpalatable to many.
However, given the large number of voters who were undecided or unsure whether they would even vote in the runoff for the presidency, a surprising election victory for Le Pen could not be ruled out.
With polls showing that neither candidate has enough committed supporters, much will depend on a cohort of voters balancing concerns about the impact of a far-right presidency against anger over Macron’s record since his 2017 election.
If Le Pen wins, it would likely convey the same sense of stunning political upheaval as Britain’s vote to leave the European Union or Donald Trump’s US election in 2016.
Polling stations opened at 08:00 (06:00 GMT) and close at 20:00 (18:00 GMT). First projections from pollsters are expected as soon as the polling stations close.
In Douai, a medium-sized city in northern France where Le Pen topped Macron in the first ballot two weeks ago, pensioner Andrée Loeuillet, 69, said she voted for Macron as she did on April 10.
“He has his flaws but he also has qualities. He is best suited to continue, we live in difficult times,” she said.
Macron, 44 and winner of the same duel five years ago, has warned of a “civil war” if Le Pen – whose policies include banning the wearing of Muslim headscarves in public – is elected and urged Democrats of all stripes to support him .
Le Pen, 53, focused her campaign on the rising cost of living in the world’s seventh largest economy, which many French say has worsened as global energy prices have risen. She has also subscribed to Macron’s aggressive leadership style, which she says shows an elitist disdain for ordinary people.
“The question on Sunday is simple: Macron or France,” she said at a rally in the northern city of Arras on Thursday.
Among early voters in the village of Souille, near the northwestern city of Le Mans, civil servant Pascal Pauloin, 56, said he voted for Le Pen out of disappointment with Macron.
“To be honest, I’m very disappointed. Our France has not been working well for years. Macron has done nothing for the middle class and the gap with the rich is widening,” he said.
Le Pen, who was also criticized by Macron for her past admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, has denied accusations of racism. She said her plans to give French citizens priority in social housing and jobs and scrap a range of welfare benefits for foreigners would benefit all French people, regardless of religion or origin.
Jean-Daniel Levy of Harris Interactive pollsters said opinion polls showed Le Pen was unlikely to win as it would require major shifts in voter intentions.
If Macron prevails, he faces a difficult second term without the reprieve he had after his first win and protests against his plan to continue pro-business reforms, including raising the retirement age from 62 to 65.
If she deposes him, Le Pen would attempt to radically change France’s domestic and foreign policies, and street protests could begin immediately. Shockwaves would be felt across Europe and beyond.
Whoever comes out on top, a first major challenge will be to win the general elections in June to get a viable majority to implement their programs.
Additional reporting by Michel Rose, Leigh Thomas, Juliette Jabkhiro and Gus Tropmiz; writing by Ingrid Melander; Edited by Mark John, Frances Kerry and Raissa Kasolowsky