French Polls Open for Final Round of Presidential Election

(Bloomberg) -- French polling stations opened at 8 a.m. Paris time Sunday for the second round of voting in the nation's 2017 presidential election.

Voters have a choice between independent Emmanuel Macron and the National Front's Marine Le Pen. Nine other candidates were eliminated in the first round of voting on April 23.

The polls will remain open until 7 p.m. across the country, and until 8 p.m. in large cities. The winner of the runoff contest will become France's next head of state within the coming week.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Deen in Paris at markdeen@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Geraldine Amiel at gamiel@bloomberg.net, Rudy Ruitenberg