Paris (AFP)

The official campaign for the second round of the municipal elections began on Monday under heavy health constraints, the day after the intervention of Emmanuel Macron confirming the holding of the ballot on June 28.

The second round "may take place in the municipalities concerned", but "we must continue to avoid gatherings as much as possible," said the head of state.

The holding of the ballot remained subject to a new opinion from the scientific council, which guides the executive, fifteen days from the vote, to take account of the situation on the front of the Covid-19.

Main stake, for candidates like the executive: to convince the French to go to vote, after the historic drop in turnout to 44.6%, on March 15, when less than one in two voters went to the polls .

Three months after the contested holding of the first round and the postponement of the second, originally scheduled for March 22, voters indeed seem still as reluctant to vote.

According to an Ifop poll published Monday, only 38% of them plan to vote in the 4,827 municipalities concerned. A rate even lower than that of the first round in these municipalities, located mainly in urban areas, where it had risen to 41.8%. And 29% of those who say they do not want to vote explain their choice "only by the risks of being affected by the coronavirus".

A large number of electors, however, usually decide to vote or to abstain in the last days before polling day.

- A remote campaign

Exceptional measures have therefore been taken to try to reassure them: no meetings, little door-to-door, respect for physical distance and wearing a mask.

The campaign will mainly take place on social media and in the media, although some "public meetings" with a limited number of participants may be organized. An atypical campaign, without the usual proximity that allows candidates, especially opponents, to make themselves known and run their program.

The usual bonus for outgoing mayors is therefore likely to be amplified, many of them having been very active in the field during the health crisis.

Another consequence of Covid-19: candidates are encouraged to revise their proposals in the first round to prepare in particular for economic recovery and respond to the concerns of voters.

In several large cities, such as Lyon and Marseille in particular, the uncertainty on the eve of the second round could, on the other hand, cause renewed participation. In Toulouse, it should be around 48%, at least ten points more than in the first round, according to a BVA / La Tribune / Europe 1 survey released on Monday.

For the rest, the official campaign aims to establish a certain fairness in the run-up to the vote. In each municipality, the lists were allocated display boards near the polling places and a single "circular" to promote a candidacy, of the same format for all the lists, can be sent to voters.

The Superior council of audio-visual (CSA) takes care of the equity of the speaking time of the candidates and their supports on the radios and televisions.

The campaign expenses reimbursement ceiling will be increased by 20% compared to what was initially planned and candidates for the second round will have until September 11 to deposit their campaign accounts.

The municipal results were acquired in the first round in 30,143 municipalities, mainly in rural areas, where the mayors took office at the end of May.

© 2020 AFP