Polls closed Sunday across France for the first round of municipal elections, where voters in over 35,000 communes are selecting mayors and local councilors. These elections, last held in 2020, are a key test of local political sentiment.
Initial turnout figures and partial results are being reported by the French Interior Ministry. The elections are conducted under a two-round system, with candidates needing an absolute majority to win outright in the first round.
Many races, particularly in larger cities, are expected to proceed to a second round of voting scheduled for next Sunday, March 22. The final results will shape local governance and policy for the next six-year term.
