COLUMN. The first round of the municipal elections, marked by low turnout and fragmented landscapes in big cities, confirms the depth of France's political crisis, writes Le Monde columnist Françoise Fressoz.

Ballots in 35,000 villages, towns and cities will be closely watched for signals about party strategies and alliances

NEWS ANALYSIS. The second round will be less promising than hoped for the far right, despite significant gains in cities in the southeast, particularly in Marseille. Leading in…