Council elections

LES ELECTIONS MUNICIPALES

COUNCIL ELECTIONS

The Municipale Elections in France are fast approaching, with only 5 days to go before the election for a Mayor so candidates are busy campaigning and persuading voters to vote for them. In some families speculating about who the winner will be can be the subject of conversations at the moment!
A Mayor and his municipal councillors play an important role in running a city, a town or a village, in various areas. A Mayor is elected for six years and municipal councillors lay down guidelines for municipal policy. They adopt the budget, manage municipal assets ( schools, equipment etc..) and deal with unofficial services especially in small villages.

A Mayor carries out the decisions of the municipal council and implements the budget. He also ensures the conservation and management of the commune's natural environment and issues building permits. A Mayor is also responsible for security and public health.

As the State's Representative, the Mayor is the registrar of births, marriages and deaths. He is also entitled to exercise special powers in connection with the repression of crime but he needs the Prefet's approval when acting in the capacity of the State's representative.

All elections involve issues and the best candidate is the one who proposes ideas for solving them.

As the campaign enters its final week, there are colourful posters in every available space thoughout the town, you can also meet the candidates at market places delivering leaflets and talking to shopkeepers. This will probably be the first and the last time you've met them!

In towns or big cities the amount of money a candidate has available for spreading his message can be decisive , a famous candidate stands a better chance than an unknown candidate. That's why means of communication like leaflets, posters, internet... play an important role in increasing the candidate's popularity.

Some mayors are also active members of a political party. There are about 60000 inhabitants where I live ( a suburd near Paris) and most people vote for the candidate who stands for a political party and not for a man or a woman who is involved in his/her town, in the local economic and social issues and in people's daily life.

I personally think that electing a Mayor should have nothing to do with a political ideology.

Acknowledgements : Photos provided by Iceman 75 ( Tiny townhall) and Dynamique et Solidaire Michel Fanget ( Fran�ois Bayrou & Michel Fanget Clermont Ferrand 2008)