PARIS, France (AFP) — Turnout in the first round of the French presidential election at 1000 GMT on Sunday was slightly higher than at the same stage in 2012, the interior ministry said. Four hours after polling stations opened, turnout was just over 28.5 percent, which would put the final turnout on course to beat the figure of 79.48 percent in the first round in 2012.

by Guy Jackson Agence France Presse France began voting Sunday under heavy security in the first round of the most unpredictable presidential election in decades, with the outcome seen as vital for the future of the beleaguered European Union. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron are the favorites to progress to a run-off on May 7 but the result is too close to call in a deeply divided country. Le Pen, the […]