The French Interior Ministry highlighted Sunday that voter turnout in the first round of the French presidential election reached 25.5% by midday, which is lower than the rate of the 2017 election, which was estimated at 28.5%.

Current President Emmanuel Macron cast his vote in the first round of the election, as well as candidates Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Valérie Pécresse, Marine Le Pen, and far-right candidate Eric Zemmour.

A Politico poll revealed that Marine Le Pen is slightly ahead of Macron in the presidential race, where Le Pen got 50.5% compared to a 49.5% for the current president.

Here's the electoral process for the #French Presidential elections.

Do you think there will be a second round, or will someone snatch a win today?#France #FrenchElections2022 pic.twitter.com/VwRN4f0NoN

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) April 10, 2022

Unemployment slightly decreased during Macron's reign

Al Mayadeen analyst for Arab and European affairs, Imad Khayat, pointed out that any percentage point by which Le Pen moves ahead of Macron constitutes a shock.

Khayat highlighted Macron’s mistakes during his term in office, saying that the decisions he took did not benefit the ordinary French citizen, but unemployment slightly decreased during his reign.

Most Arabs in France do not vote

For his part, Al Mayadeen correspondent in Paris underlined that French voters are searching for a president that improves their purchasing power, adding that most Arabs in France do not vote, while those who do will vote for far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon.

France on Sunday votes in the first round of presidential elections projected to produce a run-off rematch between Macron and Le Pen that will be far tighter than their duel five years ago.