France’s Green party won big in Sunday’s second round of local elections, conquering cities including Strasbourg, Lyon, Bordeaux and Besançon, according to initial estimates by polling institute Ipsos. While Prime Minister Edouard Philippe was handily reelected mayor of the northern city of Le Havre, President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “concern for the low turnout,” according to an Elysée official. Turnout was historically low at 41 percent, according to estimates by Ipsos, with multiple factors discouraging voters such as the coronavirus pandemic, the unusual three months lapse between the first and second round of the elections due to the virus, and the good weather. While results for a number of big cities were yet to come, the Green party was off to a promising start with some unprecedented wins.
Politico 28th June 2020 read more »