Stephane Mahe and Juliette Jabkhiro

GOUZON. France (Reuters). A handful of locals gathered Monday at a Gouzon pub to see the news about the first round in voting for the presidential election. The incumbent Emmanuel Macron won to face Marine Le Pen who is far right.

William Levron (53) was satisfied with the results in his local area. While Macron finished narrowly ahead of Le Pen nationally, Le Pen won with nearly 31% votes on Sunday. Macron received only 20% while leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon was at 14%, and conservative Valerie Pecresse at 13%.

Levron said, “We are content because we want real change.”

Gouzon has fewer then 1,600 residents and is home to a small center with a beautiful Gothic church, some restaurants, and a few other boulangeries.

Macron won the first round with 58% of votes in this small town five years back. Le Pen could now defeat him.

Levron the bar owner stated that Le Pen’s leadership would result in lower oil prices and less public subsidies. This would increase people’s willingness to work harder. Levron also stated that he would be required to pay lower fees and offer higher salaries.

His employee has retired and he says he is unable to take his place. It is also difficult to find waiters or cooks.

He said, “We have to find resources and they are missing.” It’s absurd that people are not finding workers.

Many Voters WAVERING

Levron stated that he had been a long-time voter for Le Pen’s Rassemblement National(RN), formerly Front National. This platform, which advocates a protectionist and nationalist agenda, was a former Front National.

Others in Gouzon like Liliane, 79, expressed interest in voting for Le Pen.

Rebeix revealed to Reuters on Sunday that she had voted as a right-wing minor candidate Nicolas Dupont Aignan. Rebeix said she would vote Le Pen because Macron was disappointing in the run-off that will take place on April 24, which is predicted to be tight by pollsters.

Jean-Pierre Vacher (70), who served as a conservative mayor in the village for nearly 20 years, claims he doesn’t understand why RN — which he regards as xenophobic — has been chosen first in an area that was once a stronghold of the mainstream center-right.

He said, “Gouzon was a municipality which for 50-60 years used to vote Gaullists, Chirac then Sarkozy predominantly.”

The town is performing well in the region, with a growing population, a healthy local economy, and no security concerns. I’m puzzled.”

But he added that it could also be due to the fact the area is a “healthcare desert”. He stated that ten years ago, there had been four doctors. Today there is only one.

Jeannine, 64, a Gouzon resident said that she was concerned about healthcare. This is one of the reasons she voted for Anne Hidalgo the socialist party candidate.

As many French left-wing voters, Alanord is now facing the same decision she faced five years ago. She’s not sure what she’ll do.

She stated, “I am not certain which decision will I make.” “Between plague or cholera I am not certain, but I must choose,” she said.

Seven village residents told Reuters that they are still unsure who to vote for, if any.

Vacher said, “I feel it’s going tight.” Vacher said, “I am afraid of the outcome in just two weeks.”