On Sunday, France began voting in a presidential runoff election that will have far-reaching implications for Europe's future, with centrist incumbent Emmanuel Macron leading but facing a stiff struggle from far-right competitor Marine Le Pen.

        Despite demonstrations, the epidemic, and the conflict in Ukraine, Macron, a centrist, is urging voters to trust him for a second five-year term. If Macron wins this election, he will be the first French president to win re-election in 20 years.

        Because France has played a crucial role in diplomatic efforts and support for sanctions on Russia, the outcome of voting in France, a nuclear-armed nation with one of the world's largest economies, might have an influence on the war in Ukraine.

        Le Pen's popularity among French voters has risen to an all-time high throughout this campaign, and how many people vote on Sunday will determine a lot. Many of those anticipated to vote for Macron are doing so to keep Le Pen and her extremist and anti-democratic beliefs out of the race, such as her intention to prohibit the Muslim hijab in public and her links to Russia.

        Both contenders are vying for the 7.7 million votes cast for socialist Jean-Luc Melenchon, who was defeated in the first round of voting. For many of those who voted for left-wing candidates in the first round on April 10, the runoff election pits a nationalist in Le Pen against a president who some believe has gone to the right during his first term. The outcome may be determined by how left-wing voters decide whether to support Macron or abstain, allowing him to fend for himself against Le Pen.

        All recent opinion polls have pointed to the 44-year-old pro-European centrist winning, although the margin over his 53-year-old nationalist opponent fluctuates widely, ranging from 6 to 15 percentage points, depending on the survey. According to polls, a record-high percentage of individuals will either vote blank or will not vote at all. Macron threw down the gauntlet in a two-hour-45-minute discussion earlier this week, blasting at his far-right opponent as he seeks the votes he needs to win.

        Le Pen has tried to appeal to working-class voters who are suffering from rising costs as a result of Russia's war in Ukraine, a strategy that even Macron admits has found support among the general public. She stated that if elected as France's first female president, she would prioritize lowering the cost of living, and she positioned herself as the choice for voters who are struggling to make ends meet.

        Macron's presidency, she claims, has left the country severely divided. She has referred to the so-called yellow vest protest movement that shook his government in the months leading up to the COVID-19 epidemic, with months of violent rallies against his economic policies, which some said harmed the poorest.

        The presidential campaign in France has been particularly difficult for voters of immigrant origin and religious minorities. According to polling, a big portion of France's Muslim community — the largest in Western Europe — voted for far-left candidates in the first round, suggesting that their support might be important.

        Macron has also emphasized his environmental and climate achievements in an attempt to attract young people who support far-left parties. Melenchon received a large number of votes from citizens, particularly millennials. Climate problems have piqued the interest of many young voters.

        Despite being connected with the phrase "Make The Planet Great Again," Macron caved in to irate yellow vest demonstrators by cancelling a fuel price rise during his first five-year term. As France strives to become carbon neutral by 2050, Macron has stated that his future prime minister would be in charge of environmental planning.

        Le Pen, who was formerly a climate denier, wants to eliminate renewable energy subsidies. She promised to decommission wind farms and invest in nuclear and hydropower instead.