Nerves fray as French choose between ‘plague and cholera’

France’s unprecedented presidential race has thrown many voters into emotional turmoil, causing nerves to fray around the dinner table, at the office and on social media.

Rather than vote for centrist frontrunner Emmanuel Macron or farright candidate Marine Le Pen, about one in four say they plan to abstain in Sunday’s run-off.

Seven in 10 voters are unhappy with the choice before them, a survey found, as France heads into uncharted waters with the traditional right and left absent from the second round for the first time since 1958.

The dilemma is expressed as a choice “between the plague and cholera” at protest marches around the country.

The traditional May Day marches reflected the disarray in the electorate, with competing protests -some clamouring for a united front against Le Pen and others rejecting both candidates.

“I may very well be a dyed-in-the-wool leftie, but I’m voting for Macron,” said 80-year-old pensioner Constantin Sinelnikoff after taking part in an anti-Le Pen march in Paris.

“I never imagined the National Front could get so big,” he said.

But Vanessa Harounyan, a teacher in the southern port of Marseille, said she was thinking about abstaining. “I loathe Marine Le Pen, she makes me sick, but I’m thinking maybe France needs a real jolt,” Harounyan said.

Many people voice similar animosity towards Macron, a 39-year-old former banker who was the protege of unpopular outgoing Socialist President Francois Hollande before striking out on his own to form his centrist movement last year. — AFP