PARIS—Former French prime minister Francois Fillon had the largest share of votes in early returns Sunday from the first round of the conservative primary for next year’s presidential election.
Thierry Solere, president of the organization commission of the primary, said Fillon took 42.8 percent of the first 690,000 votes that have been countedout of over 2.5 million voters.
Another former prime minister, Alain Juppe, had 26 percent, closely followed by ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy with 24.4 percent.
The two candidates with the most votes will compete in the second round on Nov. 27.
The campaign had been marked by concerns about immigration and Islamic extremism.
Donald Trump’s election as president of the United States was on many voters’ minds, as France faces its own wave of populism that has emboldened an outsider with an eye on the presidency. Countries around Europe are facing similar anger at immigrants and the political establishment, and are watching the French presidential race closely.
Across France on Sunday, lines were long at many polling stations as voters chose among seven candidates.
Sarkozy, 61, Fillon, 62, and Alain Juppe, 72, had been expected lead the balloting.
