2020 Paris municipal election explained

Election Name:2020 Paris municipal election
Flag Image:Flag of Paris with coat of arms.svg
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:2014 Paris municipal election
Ongoing:no
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2026 Paris municipal election
Next Year:2026
Seats For Election:All 163 members of the Council of Paris
Election Date:15 March 2020 (first round)
28 June 2020 (second round)
1Blank:Popular vote (2nd)
2Blank:Percentage (2nd)
Candidate1:Anne Hidalgo
Party1:Socialist Party (France)
Last Election1:53.33%, 75 seats
Seat Change1:2
Seats1:73
Popular Vote1:162,219
Percentage1:29.33%
1Data1:224,790
2Data1:48.49%
Candidate2:Rachida Dati
Party2:The Republicans (France)
Last Election2:43.72%, 71 seats
Seat Change2:13
Seats2:58
Popular Vote2:125,639
Percentage2:22.72%
1Data2:167,516
2Data2:36.13%
Candidate4:David Belliard
Party4:EELV
Last Election4:8.86%, 16 seats
Seat Change4:7
Seats4:23
Popular Vote4:59,649
Percentage4:10.79%
Candidate3:Agnès Buzyn
Party3:La République En Marche!
Last Election3:New
Seat Change3:8
Seats3:8
Popular Vote3:99,767
Percentage3:18.04%
1Data3:60,470
2Data3:13.04%
Mayor
Before Election:Anne Hidalgo
Before Party:Socialist Party (France)
After Election:Anne Hidalgo
After Party:Socialist Party (France)

The 2020 Paris Municipal election was a municipal election that took place in Paris on 15 March 2020, alongside other French municipal elections. The second round, which was originally scheduled to be held on 22 March 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in France.[1] [2] The second round then took place on 28 June 2020, which saw Anne Hidalgo re-elected as Mayor of Paris.[3] [4]

Background

See also: COVID-19 pandemic in France. In the 2014 Paris municipal election, Anne Hidalgo of the Socialist Party was elected mayor of Paris, becoming the first woman to hold that position.[5] She had previously served as deputy mayor during Bertrand Delanoë's tenure as mayor.[6] Hidalgo won with around 55% of the vote in the second round, defeating Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet of the Union for a Popular Movement who had finished ahead of her in the first round of voting.[7]

While Emmanuel Macron's La République En Marche! (LREM) won 12 of the 18 Paris constituencies during the 2017 French legislative election, the incumbent Hidalgo still retained a narrow lead in polling, even with criticism over the aborted Autolib' carsharing scheme and the debt increase over her term.[8] While LREM initially picked Benjamin Griveaux to run,[9] another major LREM candidate, mathematician Cédric Villani, chose to continue and officially announced his candidacy on 9 September.[10] Macron was reported to have asked Villani to unite behind Griveaux on 26 January to avoid vote splitting, which Villani refused, partially seeing his candidacy as "faithful to the LREM spirit" of grassroots politics.[11] [12] Villani, while of similar popularity to Griveaux, was considered unlikely to win.[13] [14]

On 14 February, Benjamin Griveaux withdrew from the election after leaked sexts allegedly between him and another woman were leaked 48 hours earlier, stating: "For more than a year, my family and I have been subjected to defamatory remarks, lies, rumours, anonymous attacks, the revelation of stolen private conversations and death threats. As if all this was not enough, yesterday a new level was reached." This was arguably unusual, with the French public largely seen as apathetic to politicians and extramarital affairs, an example being François Mitterrand. The leak was condemned on all sides of politics. Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France Insoumise (LFI) said: "The publication of intimate images to destroy an adversary is odious." Marine Le Pen of National Rally suggested that Griveaux should not have stepped down. Hidalgo, the Socialist Mayor, commented that "Parisians deserve a dignified debate." Villani tweeted: "The attack he has been subject to is a serious threat to our democracy." It has been seen as an intrusion into private life that is considered off limits, with Alexis Corbière of LFI called the "Americanisation" of politics, where "people have to apologise for having lovers or mistresses". Petr Pavlensky, who released the link states it was to expose his hypocrisy, quoted as saying: "He [Griveaux] is someone who is always mentioning family values. He said he would be the mayor of Paris families and citing the example of his wife and children, while doing the opposite." Griveaux's private lawyer has reported that he will press charges.[15] [16] [17]

The first round of municipal elections in France took place on 15 March 2020 against the backdrop of the government decision to move to Stage III of measures to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Stringent restrictions on public life involving the closure of bars, restaurants and other businesses considered non-essential were set to begin the following day.[18] Then-Health Minister, Agnès Buzyn, resigned on 16 February 2020 to run for the Paris mayor as the official candidate of LREM.[19] She is succeeded by Olivier Véran, a neurologist. The decision to press ahead with the election was justified as being critical to democratic life in the country, despite concerns about when a second round could be held as the toll of infections and deaths continued to rise.[18] In the end, the turnout of registered voters was 40%, lower than in 1971 – the previous record for lowest turnout.[18]

Process

See main article: Council of Paris.

The municipal elections are held independently in each of Paris's 20 boroughs (ie arrondissements) (with the central four regrouped into the Paris Centre sector).On the first round, if a list wins an overall majority, the seats are apportioned. If no list reaches an overall majority, then a second round is organized. Any list below the 5% threshold is directly eliminated, and any list below the 10% threshold cannot qualify itself for the runoff (lists between 5% and 10% are still allowed to merge with other lists above 10%). Lists above the 10% threshold are qualified for the runoff, in which the seats are apportioned between all lists above the threshold of 5% of the votes.In the seats apportionment, half of the seats are automatically given to the list winning the plurality as a majority bonus, and the rest of the seats are apportioned proportionally.

The elections are held onto two levels: the borough level, and the municipal level. The seats are apportioned using the same rules and the same ballots, so a candidate can be elected to both borough councilor and municipal councilor (and take both offices).Usually, the list winning the plurality in a borough, after receiving an overall majority of the seats (due to the majority bonus), elects its head of list to sit as borough mayor.

Finally, the Council of Paris elects the mayor in three rounds, needing an absolute majority in the first two rounds, or a plurality in the third round if needed.

Polls

First round

2020

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size
None
Simonnet
Hidalgo
Belliard
Gantzer
Villani
Buzyn
Griveaux
Bournazel
Dati
Saint-Just
Federbusch
Campion
Other
2020 election15 Mar 202057.70%0.59%4.57%29.33%10.79%0.49%7.10%18.04%22.72%1.47%0.45%4.45%
Ifop-Fiducial5–13 Mar 20201,42411.4%5%25.5%11.5%7%19%24%3.5%1%3.5%
OpinionWay 11–12 Mar 20201,42013%<1%6%24%11%5%20%26%3%1%4%
Ifop-Fiducial5–10 Mar 20201,1015%26%11%7.5%18%24%3.5%1%4%
Ipsos6–9 Mar 20209505%1%4.5%26%11%0.5%7%19%23%4%0.5%3.5%
OpinionWay6 Mar 2020??<1%6%23%13%6%18%26%3%1%4%
Ipsos5–6 Mar 20201,0004%1%4%25%12%0.5%7%19%24%4%0.5%3.5%
BVA 2–6 Mar 20201,2020.5%4%24%12%0.5%7%19%25%4%1%3.5%
Harris Interactive28 Feb–2 Mar 20201,1191%5%24%11%8%17%25%4%0.5%4.5%
Ifop-Fiducial25–28 Feb 20209465%24%11%8%20%25%3.5%0.5%3%
Elabe23–28 Feb 20201,0015%5%24%9.5%10.5%18.5%25%4%1.5%2%
Ifop-Fiducial17–21 Feb 20209766%24%12%0.5%9%19%22%3.5%1%3%
Ipsos 18–19 Feb 20201,0004%1%5%24%13%1.5%9%19%20%4%1%2.5%
Harris Interactive17–19 Feb 20201,09215%1%6%23%13%1%10%17%23%5%1%
Odoxa17–19 Feb 202080915%7%23%14%1%7%17%25%4%2%
Odoxa21–23 Jan 202091614%2%4%23%14.5%2%10%16%20%6%0.5%2%
Ifop13–17 Jan 20209551%5%25%14%1%13%15%19%5%0.5%2.5%
1%5%25%14%0.5%12%16%3%17%5%0.5%2%
Odoxa14–20 Jan 202087918%1%8%24%13%1%11%16%3%18%5%1%1%

2018–19

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size
None
Simonnet
Hidalgo
Belliard
Gantzer
Villani
Mahjoubi
Renson
Griveaux
Bournazel
Berthout
Dati
Saint-Just
Federbusch
Campion
Other
Ifop 2–6 Dec 20191,04316.7%1%6%22.5%12.5%14%17%4%17%5%0.5%1.5%
Ifop 4–8 Nov 20191,0551%5.5%22%15.5%1%12%16%4%16%5.5%0.5%2%
OpinionWay 4–12 Nov 20192,94215%7%19%13%2%12%18%4%16%7%2%
Ipsos17–20 Sep 20198158%1%6%26%12%1%26%6%14%6%2%
6%1%6%24%11%1%15%19%4%13%5%1%
Ifop-Fiducial9–12 Sep 20199680.5%5%24%13%1%15%17%5%14%4%1.5%
Ifop 20–27 Jun 201995113.4%1%6%22%15%2%26%6%15%5%1%1%
12.8%1%5%24%14%2%27%5%16%5%1%
BVA6–11 Jun 20191,2946%1.5%5%21%13%3%22%6%16%5%1%6.5%
5%1.5%5%21%13%3%25%5%15%5%1%5.5%
6%1.5%5%21%13%3%25%5%15%5%1%5.5%
Elabe28–31 Mar 20199991.5%8.5%25%8.5%3.5%21%4.5%14.5%5%1.5%6.5%
2.5%6.5%22%7.5%4.5%20%4.5%21%4.5%1.5%5.5%
1%8%22%10%6.5%17.5%5.5%16.5%4.5%1.5%7%
1%8.5%21%10.5%4.5%14%5%23%5%1.5%6%
1.5%9%21.5%10%4.5%23%4%15%4.5%1.5%5.5%
1%8.5%22%9.5%4%21%5%19.54.50.54.5
Ifop-Fiducial14–21 Mar 201995622.6%1%8%25%10%4.5%23%4.5%14%7%1%2%
21.8%1%8%24%10%5%20%6%15%6.5%1%3.5%
22.8%1%8%23%11%5%20%7%15%6%1%3%
21.4%1%8%24%10%3%22%7%16%6%1%2%
ViaVoice 7–25 Jan 20198173%8%24%13%28%17%4%3%
Ifop12–14 Sep 201894420.4%2%7%24%8%5%20%23%6%1%4%
23.7%2%7%25%11%5%17%22%6%1%4%
19.5%1%7%23%9%4%23%21%6%2%4%

March 2018

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size
None
Simonnet
Hidalgo
Belliard
Griveaux
Berthout
Saint-Just
Ifop-Fiducial19–22 Mar 20189732%12%39%40%7%
2%12%41%38%7%
1%11%29%32%21%6%

Second round

Polling firmFieldwork dateSample
size
Hidalgo
Belliard
Villani
Buzyn
Griveaux
Dati
Other
2020 election28 Jun 202063.30%48.49%0.94%13.04%34.31%3.22%
Ifop-Fiducial22–26 Jun 202092544%18%35%3%
Elabe19–23 Jun 20201,0018%44%0.5%18%35%2.5%
BVA12–18 Jun 20201,2009%45%0.5%18%34%2.5%
Ifop-Fiducial2–5 Jun 202097444%20%33%3%
Ifop-Fiducial5–13 Mar 20201,42416.8%41%27%32%
Ifop-Fiducial5–10 Mar 20201,10141%26%33%
Ipsos6–9 Mar 202095042%26%32%
Ipsos5–6 Mar 20201,00042%26%32%
Ifop-Fiducial25–28 Feb 202094639%28%33%
37%9%22%32%
Elabe23–28 Feb 20201,00129.5%12%27.5%31%
36%10.5%23%30.5%
37%29.5%33.5%
Ifop-Fiducial17–21 Feb 202097640%28%32%
38%11%21%30%
Odoxa17–19 Feb 202080921%33%33%34%
20%42%25%33%
20%38%10%20%32%
Odoxa21–23 Jan 202091620%40%29%31%
20%39%15%19%27%
Ifop13–17 Jan 202095541%17%20%22%
Ifop 20–27 Jun 201995117.4%49%51%
15.4%51%49%
13.8%40%38%22%
14.1%41%37%22%

Results

The first round of the 2020 Paris Mayoral election saw incumbent mayor Anne Hidalgo, a Socialist, comfortably ahead with 30% of the vote. Her closest rival, conservative Rachida Dati, won 22%, while 17.7% was garnered by French President Emmanuel Macron’s official candidate, former health minister Agnes Buzyn. A dissident from Macron's party, Cedric Villani, won 8%.[20] Hidalgo was re-elected as Mayor of Paris in the second round after receiving 50.2 percent of the vote.[21]

This list presents the 163 councillors of Council of Paris elected in the 2014 Paris municipal election.[22]

2020 Parisian Municipal Election
Party or PartiesLead candidate for mayorFirst RoundSecond RoundSeats
Votes%Votes%
Paris in common (PS-PCF-PP-G.s-)Anne Hidalgo162,21929.33224,79048.4918673
Committed to change Paris (LR-LC-)Rachida Dati125,63922.72167,51636.1312760
Together for Paris (LREM-Act-MoDem-MRSL-UDI)Agnès Buzyn99,76718.0460,47013.04246
The Ecology for Paris (EÉLV)David Belliard59,64910.7923
The New Paris (LREM)Cédric Villani39,2597.104,3680.9410
Let's decide Paris (LFI-REV)Danielle Simonnet and Vikash Dhorasoo25,2714.574,9211.0611
Les Républicains dissidents19,3853.501,5120.3310
To Love Paris (RN-DLF)Serge Federbusch8,1141.47
Lutte Ouvrière3,2640.59
Dear Parisians2,6930.49
Free ParisMarcel Campion2,5090.45
Soyons libres2,4930.45
Other independents1,0750.19
No to the privatisation of Paris (POID)6030.11
Other LREM dissidents3240.06
Citizen Bet/ParisChristophe Berkani2240.04
I love you Paris (UPR)1760.03
A bet/Paris for Europe (Volt)950.02
Total553,017100463,567100340163

Arrondissements

Control of Paris' twenty arrondissements were also decided in the election. At the last election, ten were won by the Socialist Party, nine by the UMP and one by EELV.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Anti-coronavirus measures postpone second round of Paris Mayoral election. 21 March 2020 .
  2. News: France set to postpone second round of local elections over coronavirus fears. France 24. 16 March 2020. 23 March 2020.
  3. News: Greens surge in French local elections as Anne Hidalgo holds Paris. The Guardian . 28 June 2020 . Willsher . Kim .
  4. Web site: 2020-06-08. Mayor of Paris Hidalgo, green alliance confident ahead of second round voting. 2020-07-01. RFI. en.
  5. News: Deutsche Welle. French municipal elections – Socialists struggle, conservatives and far right make gains. 23 March 2014.
  6. News: Marie-Anne Galraud. Christine Henry. Delanoë-Hidalgo, une histoire pas si rose que ça. 5 July 2018. fr. Le Parisien. 13 April 2020.
  7. http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/20140323-nkm-and-hidalgo-set-all-female-runoff-paris-mayor "NKM and Hidalgo set up all-female runoff for Paris mayor"
  8. Web site: Paris mayor's race sees incumbent Anne Hidalgo as narrow favourite for 2020. 7 April 2019. France 24. en. 28 April 2020.
  9. News: Elections municipales à Paris: Benjamin Griveaux choisi pour représenter LRM. Cosnard. Denis. 10 July 2019. Le Monde. 3 August 2019. fr.
  10. Web site: Municipales : Cédric Villani officialise sa candidature à la mairie de Paris. à 19h11. Par R. Bx Le 4 septembre 2019. À 23h06. Modifié Le 4 Septembre 2019. 4 September 2019. leparisien.fr. fr-FR. 5 September 2019.
  11. Web site: Cédric Villani: the upstart challenging to be Paris mayor. Agnew. Harriet. 28 October 2019. Financial Times. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20191030205534/https://www.ft.com/content/73c7a6a6-ee57-11e9-ad1e-4367d8281195 . 30 October 2019 . 28 April 2020. subscription.
  12. Web site: Maths wizard Cédric Villani adds to Macron woes in Paris mayoral equation. 8 February 2020. France 24. en. 28 April 2020.
  13. News: Roberts. Siobhan. In Paris, a Mathematician Confronts the Political Odds. 30 January 2020. The New York Times. 28 April 2020. en-US. 0362-4331.
  14. News: The man with the spider brooch who could cost Macron Paris. 27 January 2020. Reuters. 28 April 2020. en.
  15. News: Sex video ends Paris mayor race for Macron ally. 14 February 2020. BBC News. 28 April 2020. en-GB.
  16. News: Willsher. Kim. Paris mayoral candidate drops out over sex video scandal. 14 February 2020. The Guardian. 28 April 2020. en-GB. 0261-3077.
  17. News: Macron's candidate for Paris mayor quits over sexting row. 14 February 2020. Reuters. 28 April 2020. en.
  18. News: French voters shun elections, enjoy sunshine despite coronavirus restrictions. Reuters. 16 March 2020.
  19. Web site: French health minister to run for Paris mayor after sex scandal sinks previous candidate. France 24 . 16 February 2020.
  20. News: UPDATE 1-Socialist Paris Mayor beats Macron's candidate in election 1st round. Reuters. 15 March 2020. 23 March 2020.
  21. Web site: As it happened: France's local elections see Greens surge, far-right win Perpignan. 28 June 2020.
  22. Web site: List of Paris' councillors . 3 May 2020 . 10 November 2013 . https://archive.today/20131110213759/http://www.paris.fr/politiques/Portal.lut?page_id=6731&elected_official_directory_id=-1&document_id=&portal_component=20&document_type_id=6&seq=0&actorlastname=&actorgender=&actormandate=&actorpoliticalgroupid=&actordistrictnumber=&detailed_search=Afficher+les+r%E9sultats . dead .