Coronavirus: politicians call for postponement of municipal elections

There are only a few hours left before the opening of the polling stations when, this Sunday, March 15, must take place the first round of municipal elections. But part of the political class - including three regional presidents - asked this Saturday evening their postponement after the announcements made earlier by the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, to stem the epidemic of coronavirus.

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The head of government has notably decided to close all places welcoming the public that are not essential to the life of the country, that is to say a significant part of the shops. The argument is to reinforce “ social distancing ” to slow the number of contaminations. However, elections are by definition a moment of regroupment, note several political figures.

" If the health situation worsened to this point between Thursday and today to the point of closing almost all of the businesses, these municipal elections do not make sense. They must be postponed because they will prove to be distorted, ”said the president of the Normandy region, the centrist Hervé Morin. " In light of the latest statements from Prime Minister Édouard Philippe and the growing concern of the population, I believe it is wiser to postpone the municipal elections ," also launched the president of the Occitanie region, Carole Delga.

Health emergency

A third region president, Renaud Muselier, at the head of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, also asked for their postponement: " It was legitimate to maintain the democratic spirit of our Nation! But tonight, faced with the facts, it becomes reasonable, consistent and even necessary to postpone the municipal election. It will have to stand once the epidemic is overcome collectively ”. Same story from the deputy of rebellious France, Éric Coquerel. " To say that the French are not sufficiently aware of the danger and at the same time increase the risk of spread is a mistake, " added the elected official of Saint-Ouen.

Even within the majority, the question of maintaining the elections, including the first round, would be debated. According to information from RTL, " after the declaration of Edouard Philippe, senior officials of the majority, in the forefront of which François Bayrou, asked Emmanuel Macron for the cancellation of the first round and the postponement of the municipal elections. The president of the Modem invoked "the medical emergency " ".