Illustration of a ballot paper deposited in a ballot box.

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FABRICE ELSNER / 20MINUTES

The Parliament adopted definitively Tuesday evening, by a final vote by show of hands of the Senate, the postponement from March to June of the departmental and regional elections, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the government having committed itself to the dates of the June 13 and 20.

It is a question of deferring for three months, in accordance with the recommendation of the former president of the Constitutional Council Jean-Louis Debré, the renewal of the regional and departmental councils, as well as of the assemblies of Corsica, Guyana and Martinique.

The bill was the subject of an agreement between deputies and senators in a joint committee and was also approved one last time on Tuesday afternoon by the National Assembly.

"Faced with the crisis, democracy is united," said Senator LR Agnès Canayer.

Marlène Schiappa assured that "there is no automatic review clause"

The text does not set the precise dates of the election, contrary to what the upper house, dominated by the right-wing opposition, would have liked.

But the Minister Delegate in charge of Citizenship Marlène Schiappa reaffirmed in the chamber of the Senate, as announced to the deputies, that the elections "will be tight on June 13 and 20".

The decree convening the voters with these dates will be "taken as soon as the law is promulgated", she repeated.

Marlène Schiappa further assured that "there is no automatic review clause".

"If the ballots had to be postponed again, which the government does not want, I repeat, it would then be necessary for Parliament to be able to vote a new law", she added.

Covid-19 crisis and organization of elections

The text provides that "no later than April 1", the government will submit to Parliament a report, on the basis of "a committee of scientists analysis", "on the state of the Covid-19 epidemic, on the health risks to be taken into account and on the adaptations necessary for the holding of the polls and the electoral campaigns preceding them ”.

To facilitate the exercise of the right to vote, each voter can have two proxies, against one usually, as during the second round of municipal elections. 

Educational programs on the role of the authorities to be renewed

Regarding the electoral campaign, the bill provides for a 20% increase in the spending limit and an extension of the duration of the official campaign to 19 days instead of 12, before the first round.

There will be no “campaign clips” on the public service radio and television channels, contrary to what the Senate had wished, but educational programs on the role of the authorities to be renewed.

At the initiative of the deputies, the setting up of a free telephone number, at the initiative of the candidates, will also be authorized to allow voters to find out about their programs.

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  • Covid 19

  • Coronavirus

  • Regional elections

  • Elections