Municipal: green light from the executive to install municipal councils elected from the 1st round

Unconfined, they can finally elect their mayor and his deputies. The municipal councils elected in full in the first round of municipal elections, on March 15, now have the green light from the government, given in a report to Parliament released on Tuesday.

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In 30,000 municipalities (out of 35,000), 431,739 elected officials had seen their installation postponed, like the second round of municipal elections, due to the health crisis. The mandate of the outgoing teams had been extended.

The vast majority of French municipalities (85%) should therefore soon have a mayor. A date for installing municipal councils is expected to be announced by the executive on Tuesday. "Late May, early June," said Christophe Castaner, the Minister of the Interior, in early May.

Strict sanitary conditions

The election of mayors and their deputies must, however, comply with the recommendations set out by the scientific council, in an opinion delivered on Monday, at the request of the Prime Minister. Among these recommendations: respect for physical distance (4m2 per person), the possibility of meeting in another place (village hall, gymnasium) than the town hall if it is too small, limiting the number of participants and the duration of the meeting, or wearing a mask for those present.

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Most of the councils concerned are made up of few members: 79% have less than 20 elected members, 95% less than 30 elected members, and only 34 have more than 50, according to the opinion of the scientific council.

In the other municipalities, a second round must be held. A report, based on an opinion from the Scientific Council, will be submitted to Parliament " no later than May 23, " the Prime Minister reminded the Senate last week. Objective: to know if the second ballot can be organized in June or will have to be held later, for example in September.