Dramatic French presidential election until the last minute
Polling stations across France opened at 8:00 a.m. on April 24 local time (13 a.m. Vietnam time) and are expected to close at the latest at 8:00 p.m. on the same day (1 a.m. April 25 local time). Previously, on April 23, French citizens living and working in overseas territories or abroad went to vote early.
As usual, the results of the primary election will be announced on the evening of April 24 (local time).
According to the French Ministry of Interior, as of noon on April 24, the turnout rate for the second round of the presidential election was 26.41%, higher than the turnout rate for the first round (25.48%). but lower than 28.23% at the same time of holding the second round of the 2017 presidential election.
The highest turnout of the day was recorded in the Gers region, southwestern France, and the Jura region in the east. The places with the lowest voter turnout were recorded in Paris and the Seine-Saint-Denis area, north of the capital.
In this decisive voting round, voters will choose one of the two candidates with the highest number of votes in the first round, the incumbent President Emmanuel Macron and the representative of the National Rally Party Marine Le Pen to take the position of leader. lead the French government for the next five years. In the first round of voting on April 10, Macron won 27.85% of the vote, narrowly leading his opponent Le Pen with 23.15%.
According to the Guardian newspaper, Mr. Macron performed his voter duty in Le Touquet, a seaside town in northern France where he and his wife own a house. The president shook hands, hugged and kissed children, signed autographs and posed for photos with supporters for more than 20 minutes before entering the polling room.
Ms. Le Pen went to the polls in Hénin-Beaumont, a support stronghold in northern France, shortly after 11 a.m. local time. A crowd of supporters gathered outside the polling station to welcome her and ask to take a souvenir photo with her.
Regardless of the outcome of the election, Mr. Macron will hold an election night event near the foot of the Eiffel Tower in Champ-de-Mars. Meanwhile, Ms. Le Pen’s separate event will take place in the Bois de Boulogne.
In the rematch with this year’s far-right female opponent, incumbent President Macron is considered likely to win again, as opinion polls show he is temporarily leading Le Pen. However, everything could change, depending on whether Mr. Macron or Ms. Le Pen successfully convinces nearly 50% of voters who did not vote for both in the first round of voting two weeks ago.
The turnout of these neutral voters is expected to also determine the final election outcome.
Mr Macron has focused his campaign on pledges to cap fuel prices, index-linked pensions as well as a gradual increase in the retirement age to 65 and a policy of promoting a stronger Europe.
In contrast, Ms Le Pen promises to reduce the retirement age from 62 to 60 for those who start working before the age of 20, reduce VAT on fuel from 20% to 5.5%, and pass new legislation for granting French citizens priority in housing, employment and welfare, as well as deporting illegal immigrants.
Tuan Anh
at Blogtuan.info – Source: vietnamnet.vn – Read the original article here
