Millions of French voters are casting ballots Sunday to choose their nominee for next year's vital presidential election from among two former prime ministers, François Fillon and Alain Juppé, with deep experience in government and differing views on many subjects.
Fillon, the winner of the first round last weekend, is the favorite to win the conservatives' only spot at the presidential race. He was only six points short of the 50 percent threshold needed in the first round, which will make it harder for Juppé to catch up.
Juppé, 71, who campaigned for a French "happy identity," said he would not try to change or repeal the Socialist government's same-sex marriage law but would repeal payment of income tax at source that is currently making its way through parliament. Fillon, 62, currently a Paris lawmaker, was prime minister under former President Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012. He is a social conservative and Catholic who voted against same-sex marriage when it was introduced by Socialist President François Hollande.
During his campaign, Fillon, an admirer of late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, presented the most radical pro-business reform program -vowing to cut a staggering 500,000 public sector jobs over five years.
The two also have strongly different views on how to deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Fillon in favor of forging closer ties. He wants to drop sanctions against Russia over its aggressive actions in Ukraine and partner with Russia in the fight against Daesh.
Fillon insists "Russia poses no threat" to the West, while Juppé wants France to continue putting pressure on Putin on various fronts. They both pledge to cut public spending, reduce the number of civil servants, raise the retirement age from 62 to 65, extend the work week beyond 35 hours and cut business taxes.
Juppé takes a more moderate stance on social questions, fiercely defending the French concept of secularism, but stopping short of advocating for stripping citizenship from suspected terrorists or outlawing religious sects - proposals made by other conservative politicians.
Fillon was the prime minister from 2007 to 2012 under President Nicolas Sarkozy, who was eliminated in the primary's first round a week ago and now is backing Fillon. Juppé was prime minister from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac.
The French presidential vote is seen as a key test for mainstream political parties after the success of Donald Trump in the United States and the Brexit campaign in Britain, both of which harnessed anti-elite, anti-establishment anger.
Polls opened at 8:00 am (0700 GMT), with all French voters who pay two euros ($2.10) and state they share the values of the center-right allowed to cast a ballot. Whoever wins will face fierce competition from far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen, who is waiting in the wings ready to attack the victor as a symbol of France's ruling class.