With polling stations set up in French municipalities and schools, the French Post confirms that they have sent leaflets with the programs of 13 candidates to the 48.7 million French voters, taking place today in the country the first round of the presidential election.
The first two of 13 candidates will pass to second round of the presidential elections to be held on 24 April.
The candidate for re-election Emanuel Macron appears to be ahead by more than 26%, while its opponent Marin Lepen appears to be moving around 23%. However, in recent days there has been a current in favor of the candidate of the National Front, with the result that the difference between the two, which a few weeks ago was more than 10% in favor of Macron, has closed significantly. However, the percentage of abstention is expected to play a key role, a possible increase of which could be to the detriment of both Lepen and Melanson. Le Pen because it is largely voted by workers and employees, social categories with increased tendencies towards abstention. Melanson because he is largely voted for by those under 30 who show the same moments.
Political analysts blame Emanuel Macron “sluggishness” as to how he conducts his election campaign, while Marine Le Pen has plowed France. The French president has admitted that because of Ukraine he was not very actively involved in the election period. However, in recent days he has raised his voice against Lepen, accusing her of promoting extreme right-wing and xenophobic positions as well as of her relations with Putin’s Russia. Marin Le Pen, on the other hand, clearly cultivates a more consensual image, avoiding the far-right crowns of the past and accusing Emanuel Macron of failing in internal affairs.
The campaign of all parties, however, focused on issues such as declining purchasing power, pensions and state governance. The Ukrainian issue was among the topics discussed in the pre-election period, with Macron blaming Lepen, Zemour and Melanson pro-Russian positions. The issues that are completely absent from the French election debate are the large public debt in terms of domestic issues and global warming in terms of international ones. As for the other candidates, Jean-Luc Melanson, who is positioned in the area of ​​the radical left, is also showing dynamics. However, no poll shows him to exceed 20%. The representative of the French center-right is fighting for the fourth and fifth place Valeri Pekres and the far right Eric Zemour who was accused on Friday night of displaying copper-plated polls.
About 5% appear to be moving the candidate of Ecologists Yannick Zando while between 2% and 3% appear to be Fabien Roussell and Anne Indalgo, candidates of the former state parties of the French left, namely the Communist and Socialist Party.
From midnight on Friday until the closing of the ballot box at 21.00 Greek time, there is the so-called “radio silence”, ie any pre-election activity is prohibited. In France, authorized voting is allowed and there are French people who will not be allowed to vote. These are the 4,500 French people living in Shanghai, China, where it is known that there is now a traffic ban due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. In France, however, voters are not required to wear a mask, while those with coronavirus can also go to the polls. That is why the rooms will be ventilated at regular intervals, as announced competently.
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