Paris (AFP)

The official campaign for the second round of municipal elections, June 28, opens Monday, three months to the day after the disputed first round, at the start of the Covid-19 wave in France.

A "contactless" campaign, of exceptional duration, subject to strong health constraints to prevent the spread of the virus.

- Campaign differently

Usually limited to the few days between the two towers, however, the campaign will last two weeks. Some outgoing mayors have even shown themselves a lot since the first round by increasing the number of interventions to manage the daily life of their commune during the health crisis. This could give rise to appeals after the election to contest the results.

- Display and flyers

For the rest, the rights and obligations of candidates are broadly the same as in previous campaigns. In all the municipalities, the lists are allocated display panels installed near the polling places and any display relating to the election outside is prohibited. A single "circular" to promote a candidacy, of the same format for all lists, can be sent to voters for the entire electoral district.

- Fair speaking time

Since June 8, television and radio stations must ensure the fairness of the speaking time of candidates and their supporters. Their accounts are transmitted to the Superior council of audio-visual (CSA) which checks the good application of the device. A sensitive mission with the proliferation in the coming days of scheduled debates, particularly on regional channels. Less strict than the equality of speaking time which applies during the presidential election, equity is evaluated according to a bundle of indices, such as the representativeness of the lists, the contribution of each of them "to the animation of the electoral debate "or even the indications of the polls.

- Financing, reimbursement

The campaign expenses reimbursement ceiling will be increased by 20% taking into account the specific conditions. The candidate is reimbursed for his personal contribution up to a limit of 47.5% of the ceiling fixed for each district. In the municipalities of 9,000 inhabitants and more, the head of the list had to declare a financial agent responsible for collecting the funds and incurring the expenses. These are subject to control by the National Commission for Campaign Accounts and Political Financing (CNCCFP) and their ceiling depends on the number of inhabitants of the municipality. For candidates for the second round, the deadline for depositing accounts is September 11.

- End of campaign

The dissemination and commentary of any poll related to the election is prohibited the day before and the same day as the vote. During these two days, it is also prohibited to distribute any electoral propaganda message in leaflets, circulars or electronically.

© 2020 AFP