Saint-Pierre-de-Bressieux/Paris – The final round of the French presidential election has officially started with the opening of the first overseas polling stations. Liberal Emmanuel Macron and right-wing Marine Le Pen face off in the vote on France’s highest office of state. Both had qualified for the runoff election in the first round two weeks ago. For France, the vote is a choice of direction, and the outcome of the election is also of great importance for cooperation in Europe.