translated from Spanish: France holds national elections despite Covid-19 restrictions

France holds national elections on Sunday to elect all its mayors and other local leaders despite restrictions on public meetings due to coronavirus. Voting stations opened just as a new drastic order came into force that closed all restaurants, museums and most shops in France to stop the spread of coronavirus. The country has about 4,500 cases, including 91 people who have died. President Emmanuel Macron decided not to delay elections amid concerns that would be undemocratic. But the virus is expected to drastically reduce participation. The government ordered unprecedented health measures at polling stations. Organizers are required to leave a space of one meter (approximately three feet) between people in the ranks and provide soap or hydroalcoholic gel and disinfectant wipes for voting machines. Voters were asked to bring their own pens to sign the voting record. Associated Press reporters observed an unequal application of the rules at different polling stations. Sunday’s election is the first round of a two-lap election for the leadership of the 35,000 French communes, some of only a few dozen inhabitants. Voters will choose from the lists of candidates running for mayor’s and city council positions. If no list gets an absolute majority in the first round, all lists that receive more than 10% of the votes will qualify for the second round, currently scheduled for March 22. While most voters cast their vote according to local considerations, elections are an important indicator of public sentiment before the presidential election of 2022.La Sunday vote is a difficult challenge for the centrist party Macron, who competes for the first time in municipal elections and still lacks local roots in France. His government is also unpopular after months of protests of the yellow vest movement against perceived social injustice, and several weeks of strikes and demonstrations against planned planned reform. The conservative Republican Party, the Green Party, the far-right National Rally and the struggling Socialists are also vying for key mayoral seats and to strengthen or save their political bases across the country. The main battlefield is Paris, whose mayor is an influential figure in French politics and will oversee the 2024 Olympic games.

Original source in Spanish