France’s former prime minister Francois Fillon is projected to win nomination of The Republicans party after securing the majority of center-right votes, Sputnik reported.
Fillon is in the lead with 68.4 percent of votes, according to the official website of the primaries. Alain Juppe lags behind with 31.6 percent after more than 1.6 million votes were counted.
Between 4.2 and 4.6 million are estimated to have taken part in the vote, according to an Elabe survey commissioned by the French broadcaster BFMTV.
The French presidential elections will be held in two rounds in April and May 2017. The ruling Socialist Party will choose its candidate in January, but is widely seen as an outsider due to its low popularity. Far-right Front National's Marine Le Pen is also expected to run.