Polls across France opened on Sunday at 8 am (Paris local time) in the second round of presidential premier elections as voters will choose their center-right presidential candidate in next year's election, France 24 reported.

It is the party's first such primary vote, modelled on the US system.

Voters in France are choosing between Francois Fillon and Alain Juppe to be their center-right presidential candidate in the presidential elections that will be held in April 2017.

Fillon is now seen as the favorite to win Sunday's run-off, after securing 44.1% of votes in the first round a week ago, while Juppe had 28.5%.

Former President Nicolas Sarkozy was knocked out of the race.

The Republicans candidate is widely expected to take on far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen next spring.

Source: MENA