Incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron will meet in a runoff with his rival Marine Le Pen, the BBC reports.
This is shown by the preliminary data from the exit polls of the presidential elections, which took place today in France.
The turnout was 65% by 6 pm – slightly lower than five years ago, NOVA reported.
The difference between the two is minimal, BNR reported. The first estimated results show 28.6 (28.1% according to other studies) for Emmanuel Macron and about 24% for Marin Le Pen. The results are preliminary, unlike those of the big cities. Voter turnout is one of the lowest in history, although it has not reached the 2002 record.
This result repeats the scenario of 2017 but in a much different and complex context. The difference between the two is not as minimal as expected.
For Macron, this seems like a stable result, because it is higher than the one he received five years ago. If he wins, he will be the first president in the fifth republic to be re-elected for a second term in 20 years since Jacques Chirac.
For Marin Le Pen, this is their fifth presidential candidacy. In 2017, she failed in the debate against Macron, but in this campaign, she focused on social issues and purchasing power.
From the results and statements of the other candidates, it will become clear who will be behind whom in the second round and how the forces will be rearranged.
