2008 French municipal and cantonal elections

The second round was held on 16 March.

Municipal elections

Turnout (in communes with over 3,500 residents in metropolitan France): 61.66% (62.18% in 2001).

Results:

- Far left: 0.18%
- Left: 49.34%
- Centre (MoDem): 1.95%
- Right: 47.55%
- Far right: 0.35%

Results from the overseas communes in particular will be added to the above, and made official once the prefectures have received all the results.

Mayors will be elected by the municipal councils before 23 March.

Cantonal elections

Turnout (metropolitan France): 55.29% (56.13% for the same group of cantons where elections were held in 2001).

Results:

- Far left: 0.12%
- Left: 51.28%
- Centre (Modem): 2.96%
- Right: 44.52%
- Far right: 0.17%

The first round was held on 9 March and was marked by high turnouts: 65.67 % for the municipal elections and 67.56 % for the cantonal elections.

Municipal elections

Turnout: 65.67% (67.18% in 2001).

Results:

- Far left: 1.49%
- Left: 47.94%
- Centre (MoDem): 3.22%
- Right: 45.49%
- Far right: 0.68%

The Interior Ministry highlighted the absence of a clear right-left division. Alongside local issues, three factors help put the results into perspective:

- broadening of the lists to include civil society candidates;
- inclusion of candidates not belonging to the same political party as the person heading the list;
- candidature of an independent centre with its own lists.

Cantonal elections

Turnout: 67.56% (65.48% in 2001).

The number of candidates was 26% lower than in 2001.

Results:

- Far left: 0.38 %
- Left: 47.62 %
- Centre (Modem): 4.24 %
- Right: 41.52 %
- Far right: 5.01%

The second round takes place on 16 March.