The date of the second round of the municipal elections, postponed because of the coronavirus epidemic, will be announced this Friday by the Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, and his Minister of the Interior, Christophe Castaner, reports Thursday evening France Info citing sources government. No confirmation could be obtained immediately from the authorities.
To read also: Municipal: who are the elected representatives of the first round?
Initially scheduled for March 22, this second round was postponed in the face of the deteriorating health situation in France and the decision to confine the country in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
The Elysee Palace and the government have consulted in recent days with a view to organizing this second round in the 5,000 municipalities where the first round, on March 15, did not make it possible to decide between the candidates.
It could take place at the end of June if the health situation allows or in January 2021, the Prime Minister said on Wednesday evening to the leaders of the political parties he had gathered in Matignon, participants said. A postponement beyond July 1 would require two rounds of voting.
Read also: Municipal: "No party has an interest in an endless ballot"
In an opinion given Tuesday, the scientific council, on which the executive relies, does not formally oppose its holding in June. However, he mentioned the "significant" health risks inherent in the electoral campaign and called on the authorities to "take into account the epidemiological situation in the 15 days preceding the date decided on by the ballot, as well as to sustained surveillance 15 days after the ballot" .
In the 30,000 municipalities where the municipal council was elected in the first round, mayors will be appointed by May 28.