France on Sunday held the first round of municipal elections amid a coronavirus pandemic. The second round of the vote, however, was put into question, as the turnout was much lower than usual.
Several political leaders called for the second round, which is scheduled for 22 March, to be postponed. Prime minister Edouard Philippe praised the organization of the local vote, but also added he plans to gather a scientific committee to discuss whether the second round should be postponed.
By 5p.m., the turnout was only 38%, even though sanitary measures have been imposed at polling stations. The measures included a safe spacing between people, hand sanitizers, and voters bringing their own pens to sign the register.
“I believe it is important that that democratic moment take place,” Macron said after washing his hands and voting in his hometown of Le Touquet.
The vote came a day after the country ordered a shutdown of all restaurants, museums and most stores. Authorities on Sunday reported 5,423 confirmed cases of the virus, an additional 900 compared to the day before. The death toll rose to 127.
France sees record low turnout in local elections amid virus fears
EPA-EFE/GONZALO FUENTES / POOL MAXPPP OUT
Les Republicains (LR) party candidate for Paris 2020 mayoral election Rachida Dati (L) casts her ballot during the first round of the mayoral elections in Paris, France, 15 March 2020. France is holding nationwide elections to choose all of its mayors and other local leaders despite a crackdown on public gatherings because of the new Covid-19 coronavirus. Several European countries have closed borders, schools as well as public facilities, and have cancelled most major sports and entertainment events in order to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing the Covid-19 disease.
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