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hange, continuity with new faces or a total leap into the unknown: Over the next 15 months, the French will have to make crucial choices about their country's political future. First by electing their mayors, then by choosing a new president for the Elysée, before a probable dissolution and reconfiguration of the Assemblée Nationale. This electoral marathon will begin in less than 50 days, with municipal elections held on March 15 and 22 – a pivotal occasion to assess the health of French democracy.
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France prepares for unpredictable municipal elections, one year before presidential vote
Mayors, who tackle issues from everyday emergencies to long-term challenges such as transportation, housing and education, are the most highly-regarded elected officials in France – far ahead of MPs, senators or even the president. Given the importance of the local issues municipalities manage, these elections should ideally be sheltered from national and international upheavals. Yet, amid this turbulent context, they will also serve as a powerful indicator of France's mood, just one year before the presidential election. It will be difficult to compare voter turnout to the 2020 municipal elections, whose first round was held at the very start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, a significant rise in abstention rates compared to 2014 would indicate growing public distrust in political leaders and send a strong signal to future candidates for the Elysée.
