Polls have closed in the first round of the French presidential election, with higher than expected turnout in an unpredictable and closely watched race that could change the future of Europe.
First projections based on partial results are expected soon after the last polling stations close at 8pm local time, or 18:00 GMT.
Four of the 11 candidates running for the country’s top job stand a realistic chance of reaching the second round.
They are: Emmanuel Macron, a former minister and leader of the centrist En Marche! party; Marine Le Pen, president of the far-right National Front; Francois Fillon, a former minister and leader of the conservative Republican party; and Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left La France Insoumise party.
At least two candidates, Le Pen and Melenchon, have promised to review the country’s ties with the EU and raised the prospect of leaving the bloc.
Some 47 million people are eligible to vote in France.
