Early evening French presidential election turnout lower than on past three occasions

People wait in line to vote in the second round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Lyon, France, May 7, 2017. REUTERS/Robert Pratta

PARIS (Reuters) - Turnout figures for the second round of the French presidential election showed a 65.30 percent participation rate by around 1700 local time (1500 GMT), the Interior Ministry said on Sunday, confirming earlier reports.

That level was lower than at the same stage of polling day in the past three presidential elections.