The times? They are a'changin', sure. But in France?

 
This could be a remarkable turnaround for this ultra-liberal country - and it's because of the younger voters...  

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen cast their ballots as French voters went to the polls in the presidential elections this morning amid a surge in support for the far-Right candidate.  

Up to 48million eligible voters are choosing one of 12 candidates after polls opened at 8am local time on Sunday. They will close at 7pm (Paris time)in most places and 8pm in some larger cities.

Former conservative president Nicolas Sarkozy and Parti Socialiste candidate Anne Hidalgo were among the first to head to the polls in Paris today. 

...  

Macron, a political centrist, for months looked like a shoo-in to become France's first president in 20 years to win a second term, but that scenario blurred in the campaign's closing stages as the pain of inflation and of pump, food and energy prices roared back as dominant election themes for many low-income households. They could drive many voters on Sunday into the arms of Le Pen.

A new YouGov survey this week shows that more than half (56 per cent) of voters aged 18 to 24 would back Le Pen, whose National Rally party has vowed to clampdown on immigration, reassert France's national identity and fine Muslims who wear headscarves in public.

Le Pen's campaign has been mired by allegations of racism spread by Macron, and this week hit out at the President's 'extremely outrageous' and 'very aggressive' claims.    

If Le Pen is elected, it could very well be

 the beginning of the end for the EU...