Hidalgo’s victory will be a blow to French President Emmanuel Macron, who is in the middle of the election period and who wanted to establish his ruling party Republika in Motion (REM) not only in the regions, but also to dominate the metropolis with it.
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According to estimates, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe won the mayor’s seat in the port city of Le Havre with 58.8 percent of the vote. He held this position there from 2010 to 2017.
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“We are happy in Le Havre, we will celebrate this victory,” Philippe said. Reuters said the French constitution allows Philippe to appoint a deputy to lead the town hall while he continues to hold the office of prime minister. However, according to Reuters, his victory will raise questions about possible government change.
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Macron has already congratulated the Prime Minister. She will meet with him on Monday, the presidential office said.
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On Sunday, voting took place in about 5,000 French municipalities and cities, where it remained to determine the winner after the first round in March. The second round was originally scheduled to take place in March, but was postponed due to the covid-19 pandemic.
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As in the first round, voting was now accompanied by low voter interest. In the first round, the turnout was 38.8 percent, according to available data from late afternoon on Sunday, about 35 percent of voters voted. This figure therefore does not take into account the last hours of voting.
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