PARIS — Polls suggested independent-centrist Emmanuel Macron was leading as France voted yesterday in the first round of a bitterly fought presidential election — one that could define the future of the European Union, and is sure to be seen as a gauge of the anti-establishment anger that has brought upsets in Western politics.

Far-right Marine Le Pen, Conservative former premier Francois Fillon and far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon were said to be “neck and neck”.

Over 50,000 police backed by elite units of the French security services patrolled the streets less than three days after a suspected Islamist gunman shot dead a policeman and wounded two others on the central Champs Elysees avenue.

Early evening turnout figures for the first round of the French presidential election showed a 69.42 percentage participation rate by around 5pm (France local time), the Interior Ministry said yesterday, with the numbers down slightly from the last election.

The latest turnout figure compared to 70.59 per cent at the same time during the last election in 2012, 73.87 percent in 2007 and 58.45 percent in 2002.

Mr Macron, 39, an ex-banker and former economy minister who set up his party just a year ago, was the opinion polls’ favourite to defeat Ms Le Pen in a two-person run-off on May 7.

Several commentators have suggested that low voter turnout would benefit far-right candidate Ms Le Pen, whose supporters were more certain to vote in a low turnout election than those of other candidates.

The outcome will show whether the populist tide that saw Britain vote to leave the EU and Mr Donald Trump’s election in the United States is still rising, or starting to ebb. A high level of indecision adds to nervousness.

The vote “is really important, mainly because we really need a change in this country with all the difficulties we are facing and terrorism,” said Paris resident Alain Richaud.

Conservative Mr Fillon was making a comeback after being plagued for months by a fake jobs scandal, and leftist Mr Melenchon’s ratings have surged in recent weeks.

“It wouldn’t be the classic left versus right divide but two views of the world clashing,” said Ifop pollsters’ Jerome Fourquet. “Macron bills himself as the progressive versus conservatives, Le Pen as the patriot versus the globalists.”

The seven other candidates, including the ruling Socialist party’s Benoit Hamon lagged behind in opinion polls.

France’s 10 per cent unemployment, its lacklustre economy and security were issues that top concerns for the 47 million eligible voters.

President Francois Hollande and his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy have failed through both of the past two five-year presidencies to tackle the high unemployment and sluggish growth. That issue, and the general trustworthiness of politicians, stands out, polls say, even though security has re-entered the debate since last Thursday’s killing of a policeman.

Analysts believe the terror attack so late in the campaign could hand an advantage to candidates seen as taking a hard line on security issues.

“If it were to benefit someone, that would clearly be Marine Le Pen who has dominated this issue throughout the campaign, or Francois Fillon,” said Adelaide Zulfikarpasic of the BVA polling institute.

Early yesterday, a polling station in eastern France was evacuated after a stolen vehicle was abandoned with the engine running while voting took place.

While Mr Macron wants to further beef up the eurozone, Ms Le Pen has told supporters “the EU will die”. She wants to return to the Franc, re-denominate the country’s debt stock, tax imports and reject international treaties. Mr Melenchon also wants to overhaul the EU and hold a referendum on whether to leave the bloc. AGENCIES