PARIS (Sputnik) — The polling stations closed at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT), with the results expected to be announced within 2-2,5 hours after the closing.
The turnout at the primaries was rather low, with some 1.7-1.9 million people casting their ballots.
The two top candidates will participate in the second round of primaries set for January 29.
The PS candidate will have to face French far-right National Front leader Le Pen, center-right The Republicans’ nominee Francois Fillon and independent candidate from the left Emmanuel Macron as his or her most important competitors.
The first round of the French presidential elections will take place on April 23.
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