Outgoing French President Francois Hollande has said the best message of this election would be "to show democracy is stronger than anything" by going out to vote. 


Hollande, who is not standing for re-election, oversaw tight security measures for Sunday's first round poll to help prevent disruption after Thursday's deadly attack on the Champs-Elysees. 


His government mobilized over 50,000 police and gendarmes to protect polling stations. 


Voting in his political fiefdom of Tulle in Correze, southwestern France, Hollande said that "we are in such a time, and sadly it's nothing new and not about to end now, when we must mobilize a lot of means." 


He called the measures a "guarantee to the French people this fundamental right of choosing their future." -

Source: NNA