Macron remains favourite as France votes for new president

Paris

THE French people voted on Sunday in a presidential election that pit a pro-European Union centrist against a eurosceptic, anti-immigration far- rightist, with early figures indicating turnout could be low, but above most recent forecasts.

Opinion polls predict 39-year-old ex-economy minister Emmanuel Macron will win the five-year presidency, seeing off the challenge from National Front leader Marine Le Pen after an election campaign full of scandal and upsets.