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Turnout at 50.54 pct in France's regional election runoff

Xinhua, December 14, 2015 Adjust font size:

As French voters continued to cast their ballots for new regional councillors on Sunday, the turnout of the second round was higher than in 2010, the French Interior Ministry said.

By 17:00 local time (1600 GMT), turnout rate was 50.54 percent, up from 43.01 percent of the first round, and seven points higher than in the runoff five years ago, the ministry's data showed.

At midday, 19.59 percent of voters went to the polls, up from 16.27 percent a week ago.

About 45.3 million voters are expected to cast their ballots in polling stations across the country which will close at 8 p.m. (1900 GMT).

A total of 21,456 candidates represented in 171 lists are competing for seats in councils of 13 French regions to manage mainly local transport, education and unemployment.

In a though race to the country's regions, final polls projected heavy losses for governing Socialists, which is likely to pave the way for the far-right National Front to gain the control over regional councils, a key step for the far-rightists to vie for 2017 presidential ticket. Endit