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France

Low turnout in French municipal elections

French voters cast ballots Sunday for a second round of local elections, which are set to elect Paris' first female mayor. As with the first round last week, low voter turnout is slated to pose problems for the ruling Socialists.  

Anne Hidalgo (left) and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet compete for Paris' top political seat.
Anne Hidalgo (left) and Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet compete for Paris' top political seat. REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer
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Final participation was estimated to be between 61.5 percent and 62 percent, signaling an unprecedented abstention rate of between 38 and 38.5 percent, according to several polling institutions.

In last week's first round of voting, France saw its lowest turnout in 50 years.

With the ruling Socialists facing a drubbing, President François Hollande is expected to react by ordering major changes at the top of his government.

More than 36,000 towns and cities began electing or re-electing their mayors in a first round last Sunday.

Campaign teams wrapped up Friday at midnight, and French media are still in a virtual blackout period on reporting on the election until 8:00pm tonight.

French broadcast laws forbid information that might influence voting -- from campaign messages to the prediction of outcomes.

In Paris, the elections will make history as Socialist candidate Anne Hidalgo is up against Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet of the centre-right UMP in the battle to become the first female mayor of the capital.

The first preliminary results in metropolitan France are expected for 8:00 pm when the polls close.

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