off Canada, the archipelago of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon opened the ball at 8 hours (12 hours in Paris), Saturday, April 23, becoming the first Ultramarin territory where it was possible to put a Bulletin in the ballot box.
Le Monde with AFP
Overseas voters and abroad vote from Saturday, April 23, time difference requires, for the second round of the presidential election. In France, polling stations will open Sunday, April 24 at 8 o’clock. Off of Canada, the archipelago of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon opened the ball at 8 hours (12 hours in Paris), becoming the first ultramarin territory where it was possible to put a newsletter in the ballot box. Then follow the Guyana and the islands of the Antilles, the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
Since Friday midnight, the campaign is officially completed in France. Public meetings, leaflet distributions and digital propaganda of both candidates are prohibited. Before the results, Sunday at 8 pm, no interview or survey or estimation of results can not be published.
Some 48.7 million French have the choice, as in 2017, between two candidates for radically opposed programs, in a particularly tense international context with a war raging at the borders of the European Union (EU). Europe, economy, purchasing power, relations with Russia, pensions, immigration: all or almost separates the two rivals, which seem to incarnate more than ever two France, after an enamelly fifteen of multiple crises, “yellow vests” at the Pandemic of Covid-19.
Abstention, large unknown poll
On the one hand, Emmanuel Macron, 44, arrived in the first round (27.85%), wants again to transcend the left-right cleavage to win. Favorite in the polls, he hopes to become the first president of the V e re-elected Republic by universal suffrage out of cohabitation. He called for a barrage on the far right, promising lower taxes, pensions reform and more ecology.
On the other, Marine Le Pen, 53 years old, aims to become the first representative of the extreme right (a term she rejects) and the first woman to invest the Elysee. On April 10, she had arrived more than four points (23.15%) behind the outgoing president. Curtly beaten five years ago (33.9% of the votes), it intends to bring the opinion investigations by bringing together a large anti-macron front on the theme of the defense of purchasing power and the fight against Immigration.
Referee and large voter, abstention may be high or even stronger on the first round (26.31%). Like the white and zero newsletters who had reached a record in 2017, attesting to the refusal of millions of French to choose between the two finalists. In their latest surveys, IFOP and Ipsos-Sopra Steria institutes evaluate abstention between 26% and 28%. Additional risk for participation, the three school zones will be on vacation this weekend.
The participation in overseas will give a first trend on Saturday. Especially since the leader of “insou”, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, with his third place on April 10 with 21.95% of votes at the national level, had arrived largely in the West Indies, exceeding the bar 50% in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana. His electorate – the largest reserve of voice of the in -between -tours – was particularly courted by the two finalists. But many of its supporters might be tempted to sulk the ballot box.