French election results - live: Macron win sparks protests, Le Pen ‘won’t give up’

Social media footage shows police using teargas on demonstrators

Emmanuel Macron wins second term as French president after Marine Le Pen concedes defeat

Bitter demonstrations have broken out after Emmanuel Macron was re-elected as president of France on Sunday night.

Police charged and fired teargas at protesters, who took to the streets of Paris, Lyon, Montpellier and Toulouse to protest Mr Macron’s victory, which came despite a rise in popularity for the far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

Footage on social media showed protesters in Montpellier chanting “Ni Marine, Ni Macron,” meaning “neither Marine, nor Macron,” while bins were set aflame in Toulouse.

In Paris, at Place de la République, protesters could be heard comparing Macron to the last King of France, King Louis XVI.

They could be heard saying, in French: “Louis Sixteenth, Louis Sixteenth, we beheaded him, Macron, Macron, we can start again”.

Meanwhile, Ms Le Pen’s 41.5 per cent of the vote signals growing popularity for France’s far-right movement, a result not lost on Ms Le Pen.

“In this defeat, I can’t help but feel a form of hope,” she said. “I will never abandon the French.”

Follow live updates on the French election below

Key Points

• Macron defeats rival Le Pen with almost 60% votes
• Exit polls point to Macron win
• Le Pen calls exit poll results ‘shining victory’ despite predicted loss
• Pollsters predict biggest abstention rate in decades
• Polls open in France as Macron takes on Le Pen
• Le Pen drawing on anger I haven’t quelled, Macron says

[24 April 2022 12:19 · Rory Sullivan]

World watches on as France heads to the polls

French voters head to the polls on Sunday, for the second time this month, facing a stark choice between two candidates with far different visions for the country, Europe and the world in a closely watched, high-stakes election with broad ramifications beyond the country’s borders, writes Borzou Daragahi.

Read his reports from Paris here:

[24 April 2022 12:40 · Rory Sullivan]

Macron and Le Pen cast votes

Emmanuel Macron greets well-wishes near a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France, on Sunday (AP)

Mr Macron and his wife Brigitte at a polling station (AP)

French far-right contender Marine Le Pen votes in Henin-Beaumont, northern France (AP)

[24 April 2022 13:00 · Rory Sullivan]

Low turn-out so far

Voter turnout in the run-off election stood at 26.41 per cent at midday local time, the French interior ministry has said.

This is roughly two points down from voting levels five years ago.

[24 April 2022 13:25 · Zoe Tidman]

Midday turnout up from first round

Although down from the previous election, turnout at midday was higher than in the first round two weeks ago.

The interior ministry says it was 26.41 per cent at 12pm today:

It was below this at the same time in the first round of the 2022 election, when voters had a much larger choice of candidates. Here is a reminder:

[24 April 2022 13:48 · Zoe Tidman]

Macron thanks ballot workers

Emmanuel Macron has thanked those working on the election today.

“To the thousands of French who allow the ballot to take place: thank you. In the voting offices in our towns and villages, you are the beating heart of our democracy,” he tweeted:

[24 April 2022 14:02 · Zoe Tidman]

Marine Le Pen ‘calm'

As she voted in northern France today, Marine Le Pen, the far-right challenger, said she was calm and had “confidence in the French”.

There she is voting earlier today:

Marine Le Pen votes in second round of election (Getty Images)

[24 April 2022 14:19 · Zoe Tidman]

Macron meets voters in seaside town

Emmanuel Macron has been seen chatting to voters in Le Touquet, a seaside town in northern France, where he cast his ballot today:

Emmanuel Macron meets voters in Le Touquet (Getty Images)

Emmanuel Macron meets voters as he leaves his house to vote (Getty Images)

[24 April 2022 15:00 · Zoe Tidman]

Voter turnout in overseas territories already finished voting

Voting is happening on the French mainland today, having already taken place in its overseas territories in the Caribbean and Americas.

Here are the latest voter turnout for some of these:

[24 April 2022 15:36 · Zoe Tidman]

Former Le Pen aide ‘caught in car going 170km/h on way to vote'

French media is reporting a former top aide to Marine Le Pen was caught in a car speeding while on the way to vote.

The vehicle was reportedly stopped after going 170km/h on a motorway.

According to Le Parisien, Florian Philippot said he was not the one driving and carried on his journey to the polling station by train after being help up by police. “Nothing will prevent me from going to vote against Macron,” he said.

Mr Philippot used to be the vice president of the National Front party - now National Rally - under Ms Le Pen.

It looks like he made it to the polling station after all:

[24 April 2022 16:00 · Zoe Tidman]

Election day report from international correspondent in Paris

The French are going to the polls today for a closely watched election that holds enormous implications for France, Europe and the world, Bourzou Daghari in Paris writes.

He takes a look at the factors at play - including worries over voter turnout for Emmanuel Macron.

Read his report on election day here: