Time now for some little notes on the intricate system used in municipal elections…

Under 35,000 inhabitants

People vote for a candidate in the first round, where votes are counted by candidate. If one or more has over 50% of the votes, he wins by the first round. For the other seats, it goes into a good ol’ runoff, where a plurality of vote is enough to win seats. These cities have from 9 to 23 seats. What is funny is that electors can “modify” a party list, like scratching out a candidate’s name.

Contrary to what people think, the mayor is not directly elected. Any councillor can run for mayor once he/she is elected. To be elected, you need 50% of the councillors. If not it goes into a runoff. If in this runoff, nobody has 50%, a third round is held where a relative majority is enough.

Over 35,000 inhabitants

Thankfully, it gets simpler… for now. In these cities, parties run lists. In the first round, people vote for one of these lists. If one of them wins over 50%, that lists wins the same percentage of seats as it won votes. Remaining seats are then allocated proportionally using a 5% threshold.

If no list has over 50%, a runoff is held, where only lists with 10% or more are allowed. The winning list wins automatically 50% of all seats, as a sort of “winning bonus” similar to what exists in Greek elections. Remaining seats are then allocated proportionally using a 5% threshold.

The election of the mayor is held under the same rules as described above.

Paris, Lyon, Marseille

That was too simple. Before going further, please note that these 3 cities are each subdivided into arrondissements.

Once again, parties run lists of candidates. The first round follows the same system as described above. Electors, however, elect both a arrondissement council and the city council.

If no list has a majority, a runoff is held in that arrondissement between the lists with over 10% there. The subsequent allocation of seats is determined using the same “formula” as in the other cities with over 35,000 inhabitants.

The arrondissement council elects an arrondissement mayor, using the same system. The election of the city’s mayor uses, once again, the same process.

In part III, I’ll get into concrete 2008 stuff, looking at the important races in the major cities. More interesting than this.

The French local elections are coming up very quick, the first round being held on March 9 and the runoff on the 16th. Up for elections are all 36,783 mayors and around 500,000 city councillors. Also, often being overlooked are the cantonale elections, this year, the “2001 series” of cantons (similar to US counties, but used even more for administrative purposes) are up for re-election. These cantonale office holders are also known as councillors and sit in the general council. They also elect the President of the General Council.

Of course, no better way to start out than with some good ol’ maps. The first one is the one that will spark the most interest. Tis’ a map of the current political affiliations of the incumbent city mayors (taking into account party switches, party creations etc. since 2001)… The Paris petite couronne is also included, mostly to show the current Communist cities.

Most party abbreviations should be quite obvious; CAP is a small anti-liberal commie party, GM is Jean-Marie Bockel’s new centre-left UMP affiliated party, and the CNIP is a fringe conservative party that used to be important.

A few “OMG this party controls this city!” comments should pop up, like the UMP incumbents in the Socialist southwest or the MoDem incumbent in Saint-Brieuc.

Now, for a map of the 2004 President of the GC  (Note: UDF incumbents; all are New Centre except for two MoDem)

Maxime Gremetz, dissident Communist and deputy from the Somme, won’t be leading a dissident communist candidacy in the Amiens municipal election in 2008. In 2001, he had led the PCF-Left list against incumbent UDF mayor Gilles de Robien, who won by the first round. As PCF list leader in the 2004 regional elections in Picardy, his 10.86% marked the communist’s best score nationwide. In 2007, he was re-elected as deputy, but not under the PCF banner, running instead as a PCF dissident. The Communists were so fed up with him they also ran a candidate, this only a official PCF against him, which took 11.61%. To add to the confusion, the PS also ran a candidate. He said he dropped out because he didn’t want to “carry the responsibility of the rights’ victory”. Because remember people, at his age being responsible is not yet possible. Try again in 2014. The PS-PCF-Green list in 2008 will be led by Gilles Demailly. A poll by TNS-Sofres published December 11th in L’Union gave NC mayor Gilles de Robien an easy re-election:

• G. de Robien (NC-PSLE) 51%
• G. Demailly (PS-PCF-Green) 23%
• M. Gremetz (PCF) 18%
• (FN) 5%
• F. Dolle (LCR) 3%
• 15% undecided

Maybe it isn’t lack of responsibility on the part of Gremetz, maybe it’s the polling?