PARIS, March 23 (Bernama-dpa) -- France's Socialists and their allies have won the local elections in Paris and Marseille, according to initial projections published on Sunday, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Voters across France cast their ballots in the second and decisive round of local elections, with closely watched mayoral races in Paris, Marseille and Lyon.
In Marseille, incumbent mayor Benoît Payan is projected to win between 53 per cent and 54.6 per cent of the vote, according to estimates by pollsters Ifop and Ipsos. His far-right challenger Franck Allisio of the National Rally is seen trailing with 39.1 per cent to 41.5 per cent.
In Paris, where the race had remained highly uncertain, Socialist candidate Emmanuel Grégoire is projected to retain control of City Hall, with 51.8 per cent. His conservative rival Rachida Dati finished second with around 39.6 per cent, marking a setback for the centre-right, which had hoped to regain power in the French capital.
Dati congratulated Grégoire on his win, Le Monde newspaper reported.
In France’s municipal elections, voters elect municipal council members rather than mayors directly. The council then chooses the mayor, though the leading list typically secures enough additional seats to ensure its candidate is elected.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
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