A third of French voters declined to choose between the two candidates in the presidential election, either abstaining or spoiling their ballots. According to official results with more than 80 per cent of votes counted, the abstention rate stood at a little over 24% per cent. Emmanuel Macron claimed victory in Sunday’s Election, with some 65 percent of the vote, but it was the first time since the 1969 election that participation has been at such a low or that spoiled or absenteeism votes have been at such a high.