French voters head to the polls for the first round of presidential elections on Sunday after a lacklustre campaign overshadowed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Follow FRANCE 24’s liveblog for full coverage of election day.
Eleven challengers – from a Communist on the left to anti-immigration candidates on the far right – are looking to unseat the incumbent, Emmanuel Macron, as he seeks to become the first French president to win re-election since Jacques Chirac in 2002. The two candidates who garner the most votes will qualify for the election’s second and final round on April 24.
Purchasing power and the war in Ukraine have topped voter concerns in the final stretch of an unusually subdued campaign, which has largely been overshadowed by the outbreak of war. Some 48.7 million people are registered to vote, though surveys have warned that as many as one in four may abstain from voting.
First exit polls are expected at 8pm Paris time (GMT+2) when the last polling stations close in Paris and other cities. Until then, French media are barred from quoting candidates or publishing polls to ensure they don’t unduly influence voters.
Source: National News Agency