Municipal: with the coronavirus, the politicians are preparing for a funny first round

For a few hours Thursday afternoon, doubt settled. Was the President of the Republic going to announce the postponement of the municipal elections? What would have been the consequences? Finally, the French are well called to go to the polls. Admittedly, they will have to keep a good distance from the other voters in the queue, use hydroalcoholic gel and perhaps even come with their own pens. However, on Sunday, schools will exceptionally open their doors to welcome - not schoolchildren - but voters.

Faced with the nearly 25 million French people posted in front of the television, Emmanuel Macron explained his decision. If the French are called to work from home, if the children are deprived of school, if the oldest are invited to limit their trips as much as possible, democratic time will not be called into question by the coronavirus, and the first round of municipal elections "will be held," he announced Thursday evening, saying that "there is nothing to prevent the French from going to the polls", with the need to ensure "the continuity of our democratic life and our institutions ”.

The electoral campaign therefore continues, under funny conditions. In Bordeaux, the outgoing mayor Nicolas Florian announced the suspension of his campaign to manage the crisis. In Paris, outgoing mayor Anne Hidalgo announced the cancellation of all public meetings and door-to-door actions. This Friday, his rival Rachida Dati for his part considered that maintaining the elections was "the right choice", as long as the instructions of the health authorities are followed. “As soon as we […] inform (the French), that we anticipate, when you take all the measures and all the recommendations, and that you enforce the recommendations in particular of the health authorities - the health authorities did not opposed to maintaining the elections - after that it was a political choice, and therefore the political decision was to maintain them, "she said on CNews.

"The good conduct of the elections is essential"

In the minute that followed Emmanuel Macron's television intervention, David Belliard issued a press release that seemed more measured. “The good conduct of elections is essential for democracy. It is therefore necessary to do everything possible to ensure that this electoral deadline runs as smoothly as possible, "he wrote, before adding that if the epidemic risk increases," it will be up to the national representation to take the necessary decisions, with the help of experts ”.

Christophe Castaner, the Minister of the Interior, also tweeted in the aftermath of the presidential intervention to ensure that everything will be done so that the municipal can be held "in compliance with health recommendations". He also invited the French to come and vote with their pen and their ballot received by mail.

Everything is done so that # Municipales2020 can respect the health recommendations, while protecting voters and scrutineers, in conjunction with the mayors.
The good gestures to adopt have been broadcast since Tuesday.
Respecting them means protecting us.👇 https://t.co/QcZrOvBiLN pic.twitter.com/TSVKAeNjHD

Questioned by AFP, the Minister of the Interior took care to defend the maintenance of the elections. "If we had announced a general confinement, the question of postponement could have arisen," he said, "but it is not the case and the scientists consulted by the government assured that there was no particular health risks, "he said.

For him, it will be entirely possible to avoid any risk-taking. “There are on average 1000 voters per polling station. With a 60% turnout, or 600 people coming to vote in the space of 10 to 12 hours, that amounts to 30 to 40 people per hour in the same office. This avoids physical contact ”. The government produced advertising spots on the right actions to adopt, broadcast in the written and audiovisual press.

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Former President Hollande also supported the choice to maintain the elections. In a message posted on social networks. "Democracy is always the solution, it will also be the message of Sunday", he wrote, before adding: "We have the duty to respect the instructions issued by the authorities and to change our behavior to better protect ourselves collectively. This is the condition for getting out of this crisis quickly, reducing its economic and social impact ”.

In this exceptional period that our country is going through, I know that the French will face, in unity and solidarity, as they have always done. pic.twitter.com/xY7Ry6IFS5

This Friday morning, Édouard Philippe spoke to the press to defend the government's position. The Prime Minister spoke of the need to maintain a "very important moment" in the democratic life of the country. Professor Delfraissy, who chairs the scientific committee responsible for working on the Covid-19, took care to recall that the majority of those affected will be fine. For the others, a question would have enabled him, to decide to maintain the elections: "Going to vote is it comparable to going to do your shopping every day at the supermarket?" The answer is no. It remains to be seen whether the French will go as easily to the voting booth as to the shelves.