Macron and Le Pen dealt setback in French regional elections marred by record low turnout

French President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen were both dealt big setbacks as their parties performed poorly in regional elections that saw a historically low turnout rate.

Macron's La République En Marche won 10.9% of votes and the far-right National Rally, led by Le Pen, won 19.1% -- lower than expected, according to exit polls. The right-wing party Les Republicains fared better and won 29.3% of the vote. An unprecedentedly high rate -- 68% -- of the population didn't vote. This is the highest abstention rate under the Fifth Republic.