French PolicePARIS Apr 24Demonstrations began in French cities after the announcement of the preliminary results of the presidential elections in the country, media reports. The French Interior Ministry, based on the results of counting 71% of the votes, previously reported that the current head of state, Emmanuel Macron, was gaining 53.91% in the second round of the presidential elections, his rival, the leader of the extremely the right-wing National Association party Marine Le Pen — 46.09%. According to Progres, on the streets of Lyon from 200 to 300 people, many of whom are dressed in black, as well as several «yellow vests», are walking around the city, chanting slogans «Lyon, Lyon, antifa» and «neither Macron nor Le Pen.» The demonstrators threw several smoke bombs. According to the France 3 TV channel, about 400 people gathered on the streets of Toulouse. Protesters carry a large banner that reads: «Neither Macron nor Le Pen.» They reject both Le Pen's «far-right» and Macron's «extreme liberalism» and call the election «illegitimate.» The TV channel also reported on a demonstration in Nantes where people are protesting Macron's re-election. The TV channel publishes a video showing a column of people walking along one of the streets of the city. One of the participants at the front of the column is holding a lit torch.
Macron said his second term will be turbulent but historicAccording to Midi Libre, a demonstration is also taking place in Montpellier. The published video shows a column of people, in front of which are people in yellow vests, holding a banner that reads: «Injustice is still here!» The President of France is elected for five years. About 49 million citizens can take part in the voting. The first round was held on April 10, 12 candidates took part in it. Macron and Le Pen advanced to the second round. In the first round, the incumbent head of state won 27.84 percent of the vote, the leader of the «National Association» — 23.15 percent. The President of the French Constitutional Court will officially announce the results of the vote on April 27.
