Panic as record-speed election organisation gets underway

Dragged-out semesters, cancelled weddings and thousands of called-up volunteers. In France, the municipalities are struggling to organise parliamentary elections at record speed – at the same time as school leavers' ceremonies and the Olympics are looming.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: June 21 2024

Panic as record-speed election organisation gets underway
Photo: Michel Euler/TT/AP

Share this article

Cancelled semesters, postponed weddings and thousands of called-up volunteers.

In France, municipalities are struggling to organise parliamentary elections at record speed – simultaneously with school leavers' parties and the Olympics on the doorstep.

On 29 June, Laurence Durand-Nicard was supposed to get married at the town hall in La Guerche-sur-l'Aubois. But now the municipality has cancelled all planned events due to the parliamentary election to be held on 30 June and 7 July. Instead, Laurence has been offered to get married in a tent on the football pitch.

I don't care at all about the election, I'm shocked that it has such consequences, she tells the news agency AFP.

Record short time

When President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly and called for new elections on 9 June, following the defeat of his party to the far-right in the EU parliamentary election the same day, it created panic in many of the country's municipalities. In a record short time – 20 days – the mayors of the country's 577 electoral districts must organise elections simultaneously with the start of the summer holiday period and many events related to the Olympics in Paris planned throughout the country.

I've spent the whole morning trying to get hold of people who can work on election days, says Murielle Fabre, mayor of Lampertheim in north-eastern France, to TT.

Many are on holiday or have already planned other events.

In Bonneval west of Paris, the municipality is forced to change the planned route of the Olympic torch relay passing through the town on 7 July.

The prefecture doesn't want to move the polling stations, so we're changing the Olympic torch relay route through the town, says Mayor Eric Jubert to AFP.

Warning of difficulties

In Troyes in the eastern part of the country, the municipality is trying to figure out how voters will be able to get to the polling stations while the Tour de France cycling event passes through the town, writes the newspaper Le Courrier des Maires.

The organisation for France's mayors, AMF, has gone out and warned of the difficulties for municipalities.

"The sudden decision by the President of the Republic to call for new elections with historically short notice raises strong concern among many mayors", writes AMF in a press release, adding that "the executive power" seems to be unaware of the significant financial burden on municipalities that the elections entail.

In Lampertheim, the election means extra costs that will affect the town's budget.

It will be overtime costs for the municipality's staff and also all the material that needs to be printed, says Mayor Fabre, who also has another concern:

There is great anxiety about the outcome, what policy the country will pursue after the election.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Two Boys Fatally Stabbed in Melbourne Suburbs
1 MIN READ

Two Boys Fatally Stabbed in Melbourne Suburbs

Russian Attack on Ukraine's Sumy Region Leaves One Dead, Several Injured
1 MIN READ

Russian Attack on Ukraine's Sumy Region Leaves One Dead, Several Injured

Chicago Leaders Condemn Trump's Threats as "Repulsive"
2 MIN READ

Chicago Leaders Condemn Trump's Threats as "Repulsive"

Loose Cable Caused Fatal Lisbon Funicular Crash, Investigators Say
1 MIN READ

Loose Cable Caused Fatal Lisbon Funicular Crash, Investigators Say

Family Calls for Health Minister Kennedy's Resignation Over Vaccine Stance
2 MIN READ

Family Calls for Health Minister Kennedy's Resignation Over Vaccine Stance

Car Crashes into French Pizzeria Patio Leaving One Dead
1 MIN READ

Car Crashes into French Pizzeria Patio Leaving One Dead

Over 425 Arrested at Pro-Palestinian Protest in London
1 MIN READ

Over 425 Arrested at Pro-Palestinian Protest in London

Over 50 Killed in Boko Haram Attack in Northeastern Nigeria
2 MIN READ

Over 50 Killed in Boko Haram Attack in Northeastern Nigeria

Hippopotamus Capsizes Boat in Ivory Coast: Eleven Missing
1 MIN READ

Hippopotamus Capsizes Boat in Ivory Coast: Eleven Missing

$1 Million Reward Offered for Capture of Armed Police Killer in Australia
1 MIN READ

$1 Million Reward Offered for Capture of Armed Police Killer in Australia

Gaza Toddler Shamm Finds New Hope with Treatment in Italy
2 MIN READ

Gaza Toddler Shamm Finds New Hope with Treatment in Italy

Russia Boosts Drone Production to 2,700 Monthly
1 MIN READ

Russia Boosts Drone Production to 2,700 Monthly

Hamas Threat to Israel: Analysts Say Eradication Unlikely
7 MIN READ

Hamas Threat to Israel: Analysts Say Eradication Unlikely

Thousands Gather in Milan to Honor Fashion Icon Giorgio Armani
1 MIN READ

Thousands Gather in Milan to Honor Fashion Icon Giorgio Armani

Zelensky Rejects Putin's Moscow Meeting Invitation
1 MIN READ

Zelensky Rejects Putin's Moscow Meeting Invitation

Israel Calls for Evacuation to Contested Humanitarian Zone in Gaza
2 MIN READ

Israel Calls for Evacuation to Contested Humanitarian Zone in Gaza

Norway Election Poll: Red-Greens Lead as Høyre Faces Historic Low
2 MIN READ

Norway Election Poll: Red-Greens Lead as Høyre Faces Historic Low

Large Shark Attack in Sydney Leaves Surfer Dead
1 MIN READ

Large Shark Attack in Sydney Leaves Surfer Dead

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions
3 MIN READ

Europe Faces Autumn Crisis Amid Trump Tensions

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club
2 MIN READ

Trump Proposes Hosting Next G20 Summit at His Miami Golf Club