Paris (EFE). More than one in five voters called to the polls this Sunday for the second round of municipal elections in France — 20.33% — had appeared at polling stations by midday, which represents an increase compared to the first round and previous elections. According to data provided by the Ministry of the Interior, at the same moment, 19.37% of voters had exercised their right to vote last Sunday. For the second round, the number of voters was lower, with 17 million, given that more than 90% of municipalities had already elected their mayor in the first round, where 48 million people were called. The voting percentage is higher than in the second round of the previous municipal elections, where a figure of 15.29% was registered at that hour. These elections were held amid the covid pandemic, resulting in low turnout. In 2014, the participation rate by midday was 19.83%, and in 2008 it reached 23.68%. The first round of last Sunday’s municipal elections resulted in the highest recorded abstention rate for this type of local elections, exceeding 40%. In total, 17 million of the 48 million French citizens eligible to vote are called to the elections, following the formation of the councils of over 90% of the 35,000 municipalities in the first round held a week ago.
Slight increase in participation in the French municipal elections by midday.
