A citizen casts his vote at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. The first round of the 2022 French presidential elections was held on Sunday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
PARIS, April 10 (Xinhua) -- Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France.
Some 48.8 million eligible voters will choose their new president for the next five years among 12 candidates, including current French President Emmanuel Macron.
Most polling stations in Metropolitan France close at 7 p.m. local time (1700 GMT) or one hour later in larger cities such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux.
As for French overseas territories, voters have already cast their ballots on Saturday.
Amid another surge of COVID-19 cases, the French Interior Ministry has announced a health protocol for polling stations.
A vaccine pass or a negative COVID-19 test result will not be required for those entering the stations. Masks and social distancing rules will not be mandatory, but mask-wearing is recommended for the elderly, the vulnerable and coronavirus positive individuals.
According to a survey on voting intentions published on Wednesday by market research firm Ipsos, Macron should lead the first round, followed by Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally party and Jean-Luc Melenchon, who leads the left-wing La France Insoumise (Unsubmissive France) party.
Purchasing power is a top concern given the increase in the Consumer Price Index by 4.5 percent in March 2022, after a 3.6 percent hike in the previous month.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the environment, the health care system, immigration and social inequalities are also among the topics that most interest French voters, Ipsos said.
Raphaelle Mourey, who lives in Arbigny, east France, and works as a technical officer for city hall and at a local school canteen, said retirement reform is on her mind.
Asked about her vote, Sylvie Dujardin, from another town of 854 inhabitants, said, "for me, it is crucial the president has importance on an international scale."
In France, it is not allowed to publish exit polls before voting ends.
Official preliminary results will be announced on Sunday night or Monday morning after verification by the interior ministry.
If no candidate gains an absolute majority of votes in the first round, a run-off will take place on April 24 between the top two candidates.
No candidate has won the French presidency in the first round of voting since the Fifth French Republic switched to universal suffrage for presidential elections. ■
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the left-wing La France Insoumise (Unsubmissive France) party candidate, arrives to vote at a polling station in Marseille, southern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/Xinhua)
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the left-wing La France Insoumise (Unsubmissive France) party candidate, arrives to vote at a polling station in Marseille, southern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/Xinhua)
French Socialist Party (PS) presidential candidate Anne Hidalgo casts her vote at a polling station in Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Xose Bouzas/Xinhua)
Valerie Pecresse, candidate of Les Republicains party, casts her ballot at a polling station in Versailles, near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua)
France's far-right party 'Reconquete' candidate to the 2022 presidential election Eric Zemmour arrives to cast his ballot at a polling station in Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
Marine Le Pen, the candidate from the far-right National Rally party, casts her ballot at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Rit Heize/Xinhua)
French Socialist Party (PS) presidential candidate Anne Hidalgo casts her ballot at a polling station in Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Xose Bouzas/Xinhua)
Valerie Pecresse, French "Les Republicans" party candidate, casts her ballot at a polling station in Versailles, near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua)
Marine Le Pen, the candidate from the far-right National Rally party, casts her ballot at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Rit Heize/Xinhua)
French President Emmanuel Macron(C) talks with residents after casting his ballot at a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua)
French President Emmanuel Macron(C) talks with residents after casting his ballot at a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua)
A citizen casts her vote at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. The first round of the 2022 French presidential elections was held on Sunday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
A citizen arrives to vote at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
An election identity card is pictured at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
An election identity card is seen at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
A citizen prepares to cast his ballot at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Citizens wait to cast their ballots at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
A citizen arrives to vote at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
Citizens wait to cast their ballots at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
A citizen casts his ballot at a polling station in Clichy near Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)
A citizen casts his ballot at a polling station in Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
Citizens cast their ballots at a polling station in Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
(220410) -- MARSEILLE, April 10, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A citizen casts his ballot at a polling station in Marseille, southern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/Xinhua)
(220410) -- MARSEILLE, April 10, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A citizen casts his ballot at a polling station in Marseille, southern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/Xinhua)
(220410) -- HENIN-BEAUMONT, April 10, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A citizen casts the ballot at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)
(220410) -- NICE, April 10, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Citizens cast their ballots at a polling station in Nice, southern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)
(220410) -- HENIN-BEAUMONT, April 10, 2022 (Xinhua) -- A citizen casts her ballot at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Sebastien Courdji/Xinhua)
(220410) -- NICE, April 10, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Citizens cast their ballots at a polling station in Nice, southern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)
A staff member works at a polling station in Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
French President Emmanuel Macron (front) and his wife Brigitte Macron (2nd L, back) walk out of a polling station after casting their ballots in Le Touquet, northern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France.
Some 48.8 million eligible voters will choose their new president for the next five years among 12 candidates, including current French President Emmanuel Macron. (Xinhua)
French President Emmanuel Macron (C) and his wife Brigitte Macron (L) walk out of a polling station after casting their ballots in Le Touquet, northern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France.
Some 48.8 million eligible voters will choose their new president for the next five years among 12 candidates, including current French President Emmanuel Macron. (Xinhua)
(220410) -- PARIS, April 10, 2022 (Xinhua) -- France's far-right party 'Reconquete' candidate to the 2022 presidential election Eric Zemmour casts his vote at a polling station in Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
Marine Le Pen, the candidate from the far-right National Rally party, casts her vote at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Rit Heize/Xinhua)
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the left-wing La France Insoumise (Unsubmissive France) party candidate, casts his vote at a polling station in Marseille, southern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/Xinhua)
Marine Le Pen, the candidate from the far-right National Rally party, casts her vote at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Rit Heize/Xinhua)
France's far-right party 'Reconquete' candidate to the 2022 presidential election Eric Zemmour (R, front) casts his vote at a polling station in Paris, France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Julien Mattia/Xinhua)
Jean-Luc Melenchon, the left-wing La France Insoumise (Unsubmissive France) party candidate, casts his vote at a polling station in Marseille, southern France, April 10, 2022. Voting for the 2022 French presidential election began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) on Sunday in Metropolitan France. (Photo by Clement Mahoudeau/Xinhua)