France has decided to proceed with its local elections despite a significant COVID-19 outbreak, allowing 47.7 million registered voters to choose their mayors and local leaders for the next four years.
In response to the crisis, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe introduced stringent measures on March 14, closing all nonessential establishments and public spaces until at least April 15. Exceptions include supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, and tobacco shops. Citizens are urged to stay home and minimize movements, with visits to senior residences being canceled.
To ensure voter safety, multiple precautions have been implemented at polling stations. Voters are required to maintain a distance of at least a meter from one another. Additionally, they are encouraged to bring their own pens for signing acts and ballot papers. Sanitizing gel is available at every voting station, and assistants will wear sterile gloves.
However, questions remain about whether these measures are sufficient to prevent the spread of the virus during the elections.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
