The French right wing has officially entered the 2017 presidential election season.

(Baonghean.vn) - At exactly 8:00 AM on November 20th, seven candidates from France's right-wing party gathered in one place to begin the first round of the primary election to select two candidates. A week later, these two will compete to become the official candidate representing the right-wing forces in the 2017 French presidential election.

The seven candidates are: top row from left to right: Jean-François Copé, François Fillon, Alain Juppé, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet. Bottom row from left to right: Bruno Le Maire, Jean-Frédéric Poisson, and Nicolas Sarkozy.

The official polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. and closed at 7:00 p.m. local time. Results are expected to be announced at 9:00 p.m. Citizens will choose from seven candidates – Jean-François Copé, François Fillon, Alain Juppé, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, Bruno Le Maire, Jean-Frédéric Poisson, and Nicolas Sarkozy – to select two candidates to advance to the next round.

Each person wishing to vote will have to pay 2 euros per ballot and sign a membership agreement. Photo: AFP

There were a total of 10,228 polling stations across France, and the voters were those registered on a ballot list on December 31, 2015. The polling stations were strategically located in areas with a high concentration of right-wing and centrist party supporters.

Those wishing to vote will have to pay 2 euros per ballot and sign a membership charter stating, "I share the values ​​of right-wing and centrist republicans and I commit to transformation to bring about the restoration of France."

Reportedly, the 2011 right-wing party elections attracted 2.6 million voters in the first round and 2.8 million in the second round. The French right-wing party is now hoping to reach and even surpass the voter turnout figures of 2011.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Monde)