Macron and Le Pen Both Disappoint in French Regional Vote
- First round of voting sees turnout plunge to a record low
- Le Pen urges her supporters to get to the polls next week
A voter shows an electoral card at a polling station in western France.
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President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen both fared worse than expected in the first round of the French regional election, in a disappointing twist for the two main contenders in the 2022 presidential race.
Record-low turnout is a major talking point in France, with Frederic Dabi, deputy-head of Ifop, telling Le Figaro newspaper that abstention may be morphing into a new form of protest -- rather than voting for the far-right, people are deciding to stay at home instead.