France

French municipal elections: how the night unfolded

The results of the second and final round of voting in municipal elections across France on Sunday were expected to produce a significant change in the country’s political landscape - and they did. Jean-Jacques Ayrault resigned as prime minister on Monday after the ruling socialists suffered a debacle that saw them lose control of more than 150 towns and cities across France which were taken by the mainstream conservative and centre-right opposition, including bastions they had managed since the early last century. The far-right made historic gains in the elections, taking 14 Town Halls of which 12 went to the Front National. Mediapart English presented a live, blow-by-blow coverage of Sunday's results and reactions in this report by Michael Streeter and Graham Tearse.

La rédaction de Mediapart

  •  Indicated times of posted reports are local time (CET).  Please scroll down to bottom for a background presentation of what is at stake in the elections.

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