French presidential runoff turnout at noon lower than 2012

PARIS - The turnout at 12:00 local time (1000 GMT) in the ongoing runoff of the French presidential election on Sunday was 28.23 percent, lower than the figure in 2012, French interior ministry announced.

In 2012, the turnout for the runoff at the same hour was registered at 30.66 percent.

In the first around of the election on April 23, the turnout at noon was 28.54 percent.

The two candidates standing for the presidency are centrist former minister of economy Emmanuel Macron and far-rightist Marine Le Pen.

The two contenders proposed very different prospects for France throughout an intense campaign.

Dubbed himself as "the candidate for jobs," Macon invited electorate from various political views to endorse his pro-business projects and plans to revive the European project.

Le Pen proposed a strict opposite program based on protectionist approaches, promising voters a return to the national currency and tightening internal borders to restore security.

Nearly 47 million voters are expected to cast their ballots on Sunday in more than 66,000 polling stations on the French European continent.