Polls have closed in the first round of the French presidential election, with higher than expected turnout in a closely watched race that could change the future of Europe.
First projections based on partial results showed Emmanuel Macron, a former minister and leader of the centrist En Marche! party and Marine Le Pen, president of the far-right National Front through to the second and final round, which will be held on May 7.
Macron won 23.7 percent of the vote and Le Pen 21.7 percent, an Ipsos/Sopra Steria estimate showed.
Francois Fillon, a former minister and leader of the conservative Republican party and Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left La France Insoumise party received around 20 percent each, according to early exit polls.
Le Pen has promised to review the country’s ties with the EU and raised the prospect of leaving the bloc.
As soon as voting ended, Le Pen’s niece Marion Jeanne Caroline Marechal-Le Pen, called the election “a historical victory for patriots”.
Macron told the AFP news agency: “We’re turning a page in French political history.”
Some 47 million people are eligible to vote in France.
By late afternoon, turnout was above 69 percent – almost as high as the 2012 presidential vote – and could run to 80 percent in total. Many had expected a lower turnout this year.
The final abstention rate was also similar to levels seen in the previous presidential election at around 20 percent, according to surveys by Harris Interactive and CNews.
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