France holds municipal elections postponed by virus crisis

France is holding second round of municipal elections in 5,000 towns and cities Sunday that got postponed due to country's coronavirus outbreak.

voting to fill local offices in Paris and thousands of or places was suspended after first round of nationwide municipal elections on March 15, which produced decisive outcomes in some 30,000 or mostly small communes.

Voters are set to choose mayors and municipal councilors on Sunday at polling stations operating under strict hygiene rules. Face masks, soap or hand sanitizers and maintaining 1 meter (about 3 feet) between each person in lines are mandatory. Voters have been told to bring ir own pens to sign register.

spre of coronavirus has slowed significantly in France in recent weeks and almost all restrictions on social and business activity were grually lifted over last month. France has reported nearly 200,000 confirmed cases and 29,781 deaths in pandemic.

But virus is still expected to hurt Sunday’s turut, as it did in March. Only 44.7% of voters, a record low, cast ballots in first round of municipal elections.

elections, though ostensibly focused on local concerns, are also seen as a key political indicator ahe of 2022 French presidential election.

main battleground is Paris, where mayor is an influential figure in French politics and will oversee 2024 Olympics. Paris Mayor Annie Hidalgo, a Socialist Party member, finished in March with a strong le ahe of conservative candidate Rachida Dati.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s 3-year-old centrist party is fielding municipal candidates for first time and still lacks local roots across France. party, Republic on Move, doesn’t have candidates in every race and in some instances is backing candidates from both left and right inste.

Macron's government has faced criticism during pandemic over mask shorts, testing capacity and a lack of medical equipment. A government reshuffle is expected in wake of Sunday's elections.

Recent opinion polls show Macron’s popularity rating is hovering around 40%, which is higher than from before virus outbreak.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, whose popularity has significantly increased in recent weeks, is running for mayor in his hometown of Le Havre.

conservative Republicans party, which was big winner in 2014 municipal election, is expected to do well again based on its strong network of elected officials.

On left, Europe Ecology- Greens party looks to significantly increase its influence by surpassing a tritional ally, weakened Socialist Party.

Europe Ecology- Greens and leftist allies appear to be in a position to win mayoral races in several big cities, including Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse. party is backing Hidalgo's reelection in Paris.

anti-immigration, far-right National Rally is focusing on consolidating its 2014 results, when candidates backed by party won in 12 towns.