Voting opens in France runoff between Macron and Le Pen

Matthew HopkinsToday  04:48 pm JST

"hoist the Swastika once again"

Lets be a bit more careful and call it a 'Nazi Swastika' because this is a forum run in Japan and I see plenty of swastika's around where I live everyday.

-4( +3 / -7 )

No, you don't. I think you're confusing a swastika with a sauwastika, or manji in Japanese: They run counterclockwise, as opposed to a swastika running clockwise.

Macron won, thank goodness. On wonders what Le Penn's take on the war in Ukraine would take, considering her main support is from Russia.

Agree with @BigYen.

Le Pen has toned down her far right wing desires in order to get into power at which point the facade will fall away and she will be her true racist, Putin supporting self and France will tear itself apart. Europe will fall further into conflict and the chances of WWIII will increase.

Macron, for all his known deficiencies, is the only viable choice. Let us hope the French voters are mature enough to see and to do the right thing.

Sad to see candidates main appeal is to avoid the other one.

The customary news blackout on.

French media observe 'blackout' on eve of presidential polls

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20220408-french-media-observe-blackout-on-eve-of-presidential-election

Just a thought......

Low turnout so far in second round of French presidential vote

https://www.politico.eu/article/low-turnout-so-far-in-second-round-of-french-presidential-vote/

Come on France, last chance to turn around the rot and save a once great, beautiful country.

Matthew Hopkins: "Lets be a bit more careful and call it a 'Nazi Swastika' because this is a forum run in Japan and I see plenty of swastika's around where I live everyday."

It should be quite clear what is intended without watering it down. I doubt anyone thinks we'll see an increase in Buddhist symbols (and I have no doubt you know that that is what you see around you) if Le Pen wins. I often find that people who even associate the two beyond a historical footnote are like people who walk on eggshells about using words like "racism" because they fear they might be.

Macron 58,5% !!!

Voter abstention highest in fifty years. Young people stayed away from the pollng booths.

The outcome could depend on how left-wing voters make up their minds: between backing Macron or abstaining and leaving him to fend for himself against Le Pen.

Deja Vu.

A rightist born from privilege versus a neo-liberal Davos man.

With the majority who want real gains for workers caught between a slim choice of a lesser of two evils.

Funny how it always works out that way in our free elections innit?

"...this is a forum run in Japan and I see plenty of swastika's around where I live everyday."

We do not know where you live (nor do we care) but why do you disrespect the apostrophe? Didn't you go to school? Additionally, 'every day' is two words, 'every' and 'day'.

Tell us exactly what Ms. Le Pen has in store for France, Europe, and the world.

Excuses for losing, same as her supporters will have.

“

umbrellaToday  06:12 pm JST

I agree with everyone on here, Macron has been a wonderful president.

”

Not everyone! I don’t like him.

At mid-day, turnout for Sunday's runoff was running at 26.41%, nearly two points lower than in 2017 when it stood at 28.23%, and a decline compared to the second round of voting in 2012 (30.66%) and 2007 (34.11%). Polling stations close at 7 pm CET in most of the country, and 8 pm in some major urban areas.

https://www.euronews.com/2022/04/24/polling-stations-open-in-france-for-second-round-of-presidential-election

Latest odds:

Macron 1/28

Le Pen 29/1

Le Pen’s odds have lengthened dramatically over the past week.

€20,000 on Le Pen 29/1......

Get out of here.

Le pen is not going to let a disaster or two go wasted, I feel genuine surprise that people can turn a blind eye to such populist schemes.

I mean, it is politics so is part of the mud all participants live in, but not recognizing it is like saying the sun is not there.

Results from French territories: In Guadeloupe, LePen scored 75% to Macron’s 25%, in Martinique 77.5% to Macron’s 22.5% and 65% in French Guayana to 35% for Macron. Results were flipped last time.

If ever someone asks you why you didn't vote in an election, point to this one as a justification for keeping your vote in your pocket.

The extreme right are a horror show. But Macron is vile, and the option of wiping that arrogant, smug, self-satisfied smirk off his face almost makes a few years of fascism worthwhile.

France is voting for the person they hate less to run the country. That is really not what politics or democracy should be about.

Was there really not one candidate that the French people actually liked who could have stood in this election?

Macron won !!.. LOL !!..

I hope Macron wins. If Le Pen wins, the war will expand.

That's really hard to decide between the two. If only LePen didn't receive credit from Russian banks.

I agree with everyone on here, Macron has been a wonderful president.

macron is a fascist yet they are trying to peg him as the moderate…..

To save France and Europe from blatant and obvious fascism, LePen must win.

I truly encourage all those extolling Macron and pilloring Le Pen to take a slow, deliberate walk through the St Denis area of Paris as soon as possible.

If you are still alive when you get back, tell me who you would vote for.

This is why you need three big parties. Good luck to Macron. If Le Pen wins, France may as well hoist the Swastika once again.

As a Frenchman and voters, let me tell you that more French, the ones who know the local culture, are getting fed up with globalization and all its consequences with open Europe. All the dirt of the world comes easier to France than Covid did.

Saint-Denis is an example among hundreds. It is a pity it is the city where in its cathedral are buried many kings/queens of France, starting from the 6th Century.

French are the most tolerant people I know in the world. But everything has its limits. Hence even some voting Melenchon are going to vote Lepen.

I voted blank as I am unable to decide. A bit of a coward I admit.

France can choose to make a change with LePen, that's still a possibility. Would-she become more flexible and tolerant as president?

Excuses for losing, same as her supporters will have.

I hear Paris is beautiful this time of year, Bob.

Why not grab a flight for GW and check out the vibrant diversity of St Denis for a few days?

Macron has to win. If you think you’re seeing the real Le Pen now, while she’s trawling for votes, wait until you see what she has in store for France, Europe and the world should the French be so rash as to vote her in.

Well don't stop there.

Tell us exactly what Ms. Le Pen has in store for France, Europe, and the world.

The extreme right are a horror show

Who is extreme right and give an example, please.

Another example of why democracy is a pipe dream..