FRENCH ELECTION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pro-EU centrist Emmanuel Macron takes on far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the second-round run-off of France’s presidential election today.

France is the eurozone’s secondbiggest economy as well as a global military and diplomatic heavyweight, with veto power as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

The second round has boiled down to a battle between the pro-European, pro-globalisation vision of Macron and Le Pen’s hostility to the EU and Nato.

The president is elected in a direct popular vote of one or two rounds.

Today’s run-off comes after neither candidate obtained an absolute majority in the first round.

A total of 47.58 million people are registered to vote.

The new president will take over from Socialist François Hollande and is expected to be sworn in by May 14. —