Paris (AFP)

A historic abstention and uncertainty on the second round, a Prime Minister on the loose, a push from environmentalists, here are the points to remember from the first round of the municipal elections.

A RECORD ABSTENTION ON A CORONAVIRUS BACKGROUND

With a rate of between 53.5 and 56% according to pollsters, abstention reached a historic level, almost 20 points higher than in 2014, against the background of the coronavirus crisis.

A strong uncertainty weighs on the holding of the second round, next Sunday, in a country where the epidemic (127 dead Sunday evening) is only at its beginnings. Several politicians have called for the postponement of the second round. The question of such a postponement will be examined at the beginning of the week, after consultations with scientists and party officials. One of them, Christian Jacob, leader of the Republicans, was also tested positive at Covid-19 this Sunday.

If the postponement were decided, this would require reorganizing all of the two towers, because the municipal elections form a whole. Except perhaps for the candidates elected in the first round.

EDOUARD PHILIPPE WALKING IN LE HAVRE

Arriving at the head in Le Havre (43,6%), Edouard Philippe, supported by LREM, is put on ballot by the communist Jean-Paul Lecoq (34%), whereas he had been elected as of the 1st turn in 2014. The Prime Minister could be opposed to a broad coalition in the second round, which would handicap his retention in Matignon.

Its Minister of Action and Public Accounts Gérald Darmanin, head of the list, in Tourcoing (Nord) was re-elected in the first round with 60.88% of the vote. Culture Minister Frank Riester was also re-elected to Coulommiers (Seine-et-Marne).

More generally, LREM candidates are often relegated to third or fourth position during this first round, as in Limoge, Bordeaux, Perpignan Rennes, or Nantes.

BONUS PREMIUMS

Several outgoing PS mayors from large cities are well ahead, like the socialist Anne Hidalgo in Paris at around 30%, up from the polls, ahead of candidate LR Rachida Dati (22%) and the former Minister of Health LREM Agnes Buzyn (17%).

Martine Aubry also arrives in first position in Lille, like Nathalie Appéré in Rennes, Johanna Rolland in Nantes, Stéphane Le Foll at Le Mans, or Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol in Rouen, supported by the outgoing mayor PS Yvon Robert.

Among environmentalists, the mayor of Grenoble Eric Piolle is given 44% in the first round.

In Marseille, the candidate LR Martine Vassal, who has to face a dissent, is given very slightly in the lead (23%) before the left list of Michèle Rubirola (21%).

In Toulouse, outgoing Jean-Luc Moudenc, supported by LR and LREM, is also well placed (35.3%).

GOOD RESULTS OF THE NATIONAL GATHERING

The Rassemblement national seems well placed to conquer Perpignan, since its candidate Louis Aliot came largely ahead at 35.7%, ahead of candidate LR Jean-Marc Pujol (18.4%), the ecologist Agnès Langevine (EELV-PS , 14.5%) and the Macronist MP Romain Grau (LREM, 13.2%).

The RN also re-elected its candidates in the strongholds of Fréjus in the Var (David Rachline, 50.6%), Hénin-Beaumont in the Pas-de-Calais (Steeve Briois, 74.21%) , Villers-Cotterêts in Aine (Franck Biffaut, 53.47%).

STRONG GROWTH OF ECOLOGISTS

In Bordeaux, the environmental candidate Pierre Hurmic (EELV) is neck and neck with the outgoing mayor Nicolas Florian (LR, 33.4-34%), successor to Alain Juppé, according to estimates. The candidate LREM, Thomas Cazenave and Philippe Poutou (NPA) are outdistanced by around 12%.

In Lyon, the list of the ecologist Gregory Doucet comes largely at the head, before that of the LR Etienne Blanc and the list LREM of Cuchera, on which Gérard Collomb is, according to an estimate.

In Strasbourg, the environmental candidate Jeanne Barseghian (EELV) leads the first round with 27.9% of the vote, ahead of Alain Fontanel (LREM, 19.9%).

In Besançon, one of the cities where environmentalists have the most ambition, the EELV candidate Anne Vignot (31.2%) is ahead of LR Ludovic Fagaut (23.6%) and LREM Eric Alauzet (18.9% ).

bur-caz / mra / shu

© 2020 AFP