What solution for the 4922 municipalities still awaiting a second round? If Emmanuel Macron made no allusion to the municipal during his television intervention on the epidemic of Covid-19, Monday, April 13, the question tarnishes the majority. “Most major cities are affected by this problem, with waivers that are sometimes very uncertain, such as in Le Havre for Edouard Philippe, in Lyon, Bordeaux and even Marseille. If the health crisis continues for many months, it will end up posing a serious political problem, ”says a heavyweight from La République en Marche (LREM).
Thursday April 16, in Matignon, the Prime Minister himself raised the subject during a videoconference in the morning with the heads of the main associations of local elected representatives, including François Baroin (Association of Mayors of France, AMF), Jean -Luc Moudenc (urban France) and Caroline Cayeux (Cities of France). All made him understand that it was now necessary to go quickly, "late June or early July at the latest," according to the latter. "Mid-September, really as a last resort," said Baroin.
"Next March, there is no consensus here"
"Going fast is not really in the mindset of health professionals ..." retorted Edouard Philippe, who is now impatiently waiting for May 23 and the conclusions of the parliamentary report, drawn up with the advice of scientific council, to know if a second round is still possible in June. "We will obviously comply with health requirements," returned the participants.
As a result, in recent days, the Elysée has repeatedly raised the hypothesis of a postponement in October, de facto pushing back the senators, initially scheduled for September. "And if we have a new epidemic wave at that time, what do we do?" Asks a senior executive. Rumors also circulate on a scenario to cross the year squarely and organize a poll next March, by replaying the two rounds where the mayors have not yet been elected. "Next March, some at LREM want it, but there is no consensus here and it will not be consensus with the right", notes a minister who raises another problem: the telescoping with the departmental and regional.
“The municipalities cannot organize three types of ballot on the same day. This is technically unthinkable, unless you defer the regional ones in this case. But there, it would start to do a little much ... I have never seen a puzzle like this, "sighs a relative of Emmanuel Macron.
