The second round of local elections is underway in France, perceived as a test of electoral attitudes in anticipation of next year's presidential vote, French media reported.
By tradition, any electoral list that passes 10 percent in the first round is eligible to register for the second round. Between the two rounds, lists may be merged. The leaders of the lists are also considered mayoral candidates. Between the two rounds, they may announce that they are withdrawing from the race.
In the first round on March 15, mayors and municipal councils were elected in over 33,000 settlements in France. There will be a second round in 1,500 municipalities.
The most interesting battles are in the two largest cities in France – Paris and Marseille
In Paris, the mayoral race in first place after the first round is led by socialist Emmanuel Gregoire, who is supported by the center-left, communists and environmentalists. In the first round, he received 37.98 percent. In second place is right-wing candidate Rachida Dati with 25.46 percent, which is well below expectations. Dati, who is supported by the conservative right-wing “Republicans“ and by some Macronists, assured that she would not seek support from the far right and as a result she received the support of centrist candidate Pierre-Yves Bournazel, who received 11.34 percent in the first round. The third candidate there is Sofia Chikirou from the radical left “France Unrestrained” with 11.72 percent.
In Marseille, the incumbent mayor of the left-wing party Benoit Payan will face off against the candidate of the far-right party “National Rally“ Franck Alisio. Payan received 36.70 percent in the first round, while Alisio received 35.02 percent.