French municipal elections, 2008

The French municipal elections of 2008 were held on 9 March in that year (with a second round of voting taking place, where necessary, one week later on 16 March) to elect the municipal councils of France's 36,782 communes. The first task of each newly constituted municipal council was to elect a mayor for that commune.

Municipal councillors, and the mayors they elect, ordinarily serve a term of six years. However those who took office following the last municipal elections, held on 11 and 18 March 2001, had their terms extended to seven years by an Act of the French parliament [ [http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000634268&dateTexte= Act number 2005-1563 of the 15 December 2005 (in French)] ] designed to avoid an overloading of the electoral calendar in 2007. [Four other rounds of voting were already due to be held in that year: two rounds of the presidential election in April/May and two rounds of the legislative elections scheduled for June 2007]

Results

The left gained back grounds lost in 2001 and in previous elections and sent a message of warning to President Nicolas Sarkozy, in power since 2007. The PS gained cities like Toulouse, Strasbourg, Amiens, Saint-Etienne and Reims. The left also held on easily to most of its cities, including Paris and Lyon. The close election in Marseille, however, was won by the UMP incumbent. The right did poorly but held on to some of its cities like Bordeaux, Le Havre, Nice, Toulon or Aix-en-Provence. Among right-wing gains were the cities of Chaumont, Le-Puy-en-Velay, and Calais (ending 37 years of Communist control).

François Bayrou's centrist MoDem did poorly, although MoDem incumbents generally won. However, Bayrou himself was defeated (by the PS) in his hometown of Pau. Between the two rounds the MoDem followed three strategies- maintain its list in the runoffs, if qualified; ally with the right (as in Toulouse); or ally with the left (as in Marseille).

The far-right FN did extremely poorly, winning only 0.93% nationwide and qualifying for the runoff in only 7 cities with 30,000+ population (40 in 2001, 105 in 1995).

The Greens regained grounds lost in 2007, the most notable Green gain was by Dominique Voynet in Montreuil. However, the Green vote was halved in Paris­ over 2001.

The PCF held most of its ground in its Seine-Saint-Denis strongholds (despite most incumbents facing Socialist candidates) but also in other PCF cities (Nanterre, Arles). It gained Dieppe and Vierzon while losing Calais (to UMP) and Aubervilliers (to PS).

Important races

Paris

"See also: Paris municipal election, 2008"

The popular Socialist incumbent Bertrand Delanoë was very easily re-elected. Françoise de Panafieu represented the centre-right UMP as the right tried, in vain, to regain the capital. Among high-profile candidates on her lists is the Justice Minister Rachida Dati, UMP elected in the capital's VIIe arrondissement. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/world/europe/13france.html?em&ex=1200373200&en=8d83de11471e08db&ei=5087%0A French Cabinet Position Not Enough? Then Try Mayor. - New York Times ] ] .

Results below give only citywide raw vote totals, not results by sectors.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Bertrand Delanoë*
votes =
percentage = 40.36
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Françoise de Panafieu
votes =
percentage = 29.76
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Marielle de Sarnez
votes =
percentage = 9.32
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = The Greens (France)
candidate = Denis Beaupin
votes =
percentage = 7.65
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Right
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 5.05
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (France)
candidate = Martial Bild
votes =
percentage = 2.94
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Revolutionary Communist League (France)
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 1.98
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Left
candidate = Michel Charzat
votes =
percentage = 0.87
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Far left
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 0.65
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Workers' Struggle
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 0.63
change = Election box candidate
party = Other
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 0.39
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = New Centre
candidate = Yves Bozzo di Borgo
votes =
percentage = 0.20
change = Election box candidate
party = Joke candidate
candidate = Gaspard Delanoë
votes =
percentage = 0.16
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Alliance Royale
candidate = Patrick de Villenoisy
votes =
percentage = 0.05
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Bertrand Delanoë*
votes =
percentage = 54.88
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Françoise de Panafieu
votes =
percentage = 37.65
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Right
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 3.03
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Marielle de Sarnez
votes =
percentage = 2.54
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Left
candidate = Michel Charzat
votes =
percentage = 1.91
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Socialist Party (France)
swing = Election box end

Bordeaux

In Bordeaux, the incumbent Mayor and former Prime Minister Alain Juppé, defeated in the French legislative election, 2007 stood for re-election. The Socialist candidate was be Aquitaine President Alain Rousset. The centrist MoDem, led by François Bayrou announced its support for Mr. Juppé.Mr. Juppé was re-elected by the first round with over 56% of votes cast, even improving over 2001.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Alain Juppé*
votes = 46,087
percentage = 56.62
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Alain Rousset
votes = 27,790
percentage = 34.14
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Revolutionary Communist League (France)
candidate = Emmanuel Bichindaritz
votes = 2,484
percentage = 3.05
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (France)
candidate = Jacques Colombier
votes = 2,111
percentage = 2.59
change = Election box candidate
party = "Chemin du bon sens"
candidate = Marc Vanhove
votes = 1,201
percentage = 1.48
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = New Centre
candidate = Adrien Bonnet
votes = 1,144
percentage = 1.41
change = +1.41 Election box candidate with party link
party = Workers' Struggle
candidate = Denis Lacoste
votes = 502
percentage = 0.62
change = Election box candidate
party = "Parti Indépendant pour la Culture"
candidate = S. Boudy
votes = 77
percentage = 0.09
change = Election box turnout
votes = 82,354
percentage = 61.70
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Union for a Popular Movement
swing = Election box end

Lyon

"See also: Lyon municipal election, 2008"

In 2001, the Socialist Gérard Collomb won the country's second largest city from the UDF. Lyon had been considered a stronghold for the centrist UDF in previous years. In 2008, former UMP Transportation Minister Dominique Perben tried to win back the city. Surprisingly, the two highly presumed candidates for the centrist MoDem and the far-right National Front, Azouz Begag and Bruno Gollnisch respectively both announced their intentions not to stand.In February, after a fight with MoDem leader François Bayrou, the MoDem list leader integrated the UMP list, but Bayrou found another list leader. The MoDem list was also shaken after one of its list was rejected because one of its candidates was also on a FN list.With his sky-high popularity, Collomb was re-elected by the first round and Perben himself was defeated in his sector.Results below give only citywide raw vote totals, not results by sectors.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Gérard Collomb*
votes =
percentage = 52.84
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Dominique Perben
votes =
percentage = 30.10
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Eric Lafond
votes =
percentage = 6.82
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (France)
candidate = Jacques Boudot
votes =
percentage = 3.29
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Far left
candidate = Marylène Cahouet
votes =
percentage = 5.13
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Workers' Struggle
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 1.14
change = Election box candidate
party = Others
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 0.67
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Socialist Party (France)
swing = Election box end

Marseille

"See also: Marseille municipal election, 2008"

In the country's third largest city, Jean-Claude Gaudin of the UMP faced Socialist Senator Jean-Noël Guérini, FN candidate Stéphane Ravier, and MoDem MEP Jean-Luc Bennahmias. The race was very close and both sides had a chance to win, but Gaudin was re-elected narrowly.

Results below give only citywide raw vote totals, not results by sectors.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Jean-Noël Guérini
votes =
percentage = 41.25
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Jean-Claude Gaudin*
votes =
percentage = 38.77
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (France)
candidate = Stéphane Ravier
votes =
percentage = 8.85
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Jean-Luc Bennahmias
votes =
percentage = 5.35
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Far left
candidate = Armelle Chevassu
votes =
percentage = 5.28
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Movement for France
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 0.29
change = Election box candidate
party = Other
candidate =
votes =
percentage = 0.21
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Jean-Claude Gaudin
votes =
percentage = 50.33
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Jean-Noël Guérini
votes =
percentage = 48.06
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (France)
candidate = Stéphane Ravier
votes =
percentage = 1.61
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Union for a Popular Movement
swing = Election box end

Nice

The right was divided in this generally right-wing city, with incumbent mayor Jacques Peyrat staging a dissident candidacy against UMP candidate Christian Estrosi. Estrosi won 38% to Peyrat's 23%. However, the PS candidate Patrick Allemand, with his 22%, is also qualified for a three-way runoff.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Christian Estrosi
votes = 46,576
percentage = 38.27
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Right
candidate = Jacques Peyrat*
votes = 28,161
percentage = 23.14
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Patrick Allemand
votes = 27,141
percentage = 22.30
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Left
candidate = Patrick Mottard
votes = 7,887
percentage = 6.48
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (France)
candidate = Lydia Schenardi
votes = 5,068
percentage = 4.16
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Hervé Caël
votes = 3,781
percentage = 3.11
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Far right
candidate = Philippe Vardon
votes = 3,686
percentage = 3.03
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Revolutionary Communist League (France)
candidate = Bruno Della Sudda
votes = 2,413
percentage = 1.98
change = Election box turnout
votes = 124,767
percentage = 58.16
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Christian Estrosi
votes = 51,792
percentage = 41.33
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Patrick Allemand
votes = 41,561
percentage = 33.17
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Right
candidate = Jacques Peyrat*
votes = 31,952
percentage = 25.50
change = Election box turnout
votes = 125,305
percentage = 60
change = Election box gain with party link
winner = Union for a Popular Movement
loser = Miscellaneous Right
swing = Election box end

Rennes

In this Socialist city, longtime mayor Edmond Hervé (since 1977) did not lead the PS list in this election, he was replaced by Saint-Jacques-de-la-Lande mayor Daniel Delaveau, who was easily elected. The MoDem candidate, with her 10%, also won a place in the runoff.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Daniel Delaveau
votes = 30,735
percentage = 46.98
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Karim Boudjema
votes = 17,084
percentage = 26.11
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Caroline Ollivro
votes = 6,692
percentage = 10.23
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = The Greens (France)
candidate = Nicole Kiil-Nielsen
votes = 5,841
percentage = 8.93
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Far left
candidate = Valerie Faucheux
votes = 3,263
percentage = 4.99
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Workers' Struggle
candidate = Raymond Madec
votes = 1,151
percentage = 1.76
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Workers' Party (France)
candidate = Carine Weber
votes = 661
percentage = 1.01
change = Election box turnout
votes = 67,134
percentage = 56.93
change = +3.97 Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Daniel Delaveau
votes = 37,169
percentage = 60.40
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Karim Boudjema
votes = 16,885
percentage = 27.44
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Caroline Ollivro
votes = 7,480
percentage = 12.16
change = Election box turnout
votes = 61,534
percentage = 53.
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Socialist Party (France)
swing = Election box end

Toulouse

Jean-Luc Moudenc of the UMP faced a very tough race against the left, which swept the city in the Presidential and Legislative elections held in 2007. Contrary to polls, Moudenc came out on top of the first round with 42% to the PS's 39%. Following the first round, he merged his lists with the MoDem. However, he lost to Pierre Cohen, the PS candidate.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Jean-Luc Moudenc*
votes = 57,303
percentage = 42.60
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Pierre Cohen
votes = 52,455
percentage = 39.00
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Jean-Luc Forget
votes = 7,936
percentage = 5.90
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Left
candidate = François Simon
votes = 7,293
percentage = 5.42
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Revolutionary Communist League (France)
candidate = Myriam Martin
votes = 6,817
percentage = 5.07
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = André Gallego
votes = 1,155
percentage = 0.86
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Workers' Struggle
candidate = Sandra Torremocha
votes = 1,112
percentage = 0.83
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Far left
candidate = Thierry Dupin
votes = 446
percentage = 0.33
change = Election box turnout
votes = 137,283
percentage = 46.50
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Pierre Cohen
votes = 73,414
percentage = 50.42
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Jean-Luc Moudenc*
votes = 72,205
percentage = 49.58
change = Election box turnout
votes = 145,619
percentage = 61
change = Election box gain with party link
winner = Socialist Party (France)
loser = Union for a Popular Movement
swing = Election box end

Lille

Socialist incumbent Martine Aubry ran for re-election, with 6 candidates opposing her. The Greens, although they qualified for the runoff, preferred to merge with Aubry's PS lists.

Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Martine Aubry*
votes = 27,202
percentage = 46.02
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Sébastien Huyghe
votes = 12,791
percentage = 21.64
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = The Greens (France)
candidate = Eric Quiquet
votes = 6,848
percentage = 11.58
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Jacques Richir
votes = 4,603
percentage = 7.79
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (France)
candidate = Éric Dillies
votes = 3,317
percentage = 5.61
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Revolutionary Communist League (France)
candidate = Jan Pauwels
votes = 2,337
percentage = 3.95
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Workers' Struggle
candidate = Nicole Baudrin
votes = 1,373
percentage = 2.32
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Left
candidate = Etienne Forest
votes = 642
percentage = 1.09
change = Election box turnout
votes = 60,599
percentage = 48.83
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Martine Aubry*
votes = 35,226
percentage = 66.56
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Sébastien Huyghe
votes = 17,700
percentage = 33.44
change = Election box turnout
votes = 52,926
percentage = 44
change = Election box hold with party link
winner = Socialist Party (France)
swing = Election box end

trasbourg

The capital of Alsace, Strasbourg was gained by the right from the left in 2001. However, in 2008, the UMP incumbent Fabienne Keller could be potentially defeated by the PS's Roland Ries. A poll showed her defeated 53-47 in the runoff. [ [http://www.ifop.com/europe/sondages/opinionf/municipales_strasbourg.asp Le climat politique à Strasbourg ] ]

Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Roland Ries
votes = 32,753
percentage = 43.90
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Fabienne Keller*
votes = 25,314
percentage = 33.93
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = The Greens (France)
candidate = Alain Jund
votes = 4,752
percentage = 6.37
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Movement (France)
candidate = Chantal Cutajar
votes = 4,280
percentage = 5.74
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = National Front (France)
candidate = Christian Cotelle
votes = 2,121
percentage = 2.84
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Alsace d'Abord
candidate = Robert Spieler
votes = 1,616
percentage = 2.17
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Revolutionary Communist League (France)
candidate = Marcel Wolff
votes = 1,394
percentage = 1.87
change = Election box candidate
party = Other
candidate = Mohammed Latreche
votes = 1,047
percentage = 1.40
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Miscellaneous Left
candidate = Jamal Boussif
votes = 540
percentage = 0.72
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Workers' Struggle
candidate = Roland Robert
votes = 504
percentage = 0.68
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Far left
candidate = Pascal Fischer
votes = 290
percentage = 0.39
change = Election box turnout
votes = 75,893
percentage = 54.68
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Socialist Party (France)
candidate = Roland Ries
votes = 44,935
percentage = 58.33
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Union for a Popular Movement
candidate = Fabienne Keller*
votes = 32,097
percentage = 41.66
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box gain with party link
winner = Socialist Party (France)
loser = Union for a Popular Movement
swing = Election box end

Ethnic pluralism

For the first time ever, the three main parties (center-right UMP, centrist MoDem, and center-left PS) put on top of a 50-odd lists candidates with a non-European ethnic background ("candidats de la diversité"), most either from North Africa, a few from the French Caribbean departments or sub-Saharan Africa, most against incumbent mayors from the opposite party, thus with lower chances to succeed [Élections municipales françaises de 2008 - Diversité] [ [http://suffrage-universel.be/fr/frel08.htm Candidats d'origine non-européenne aux élections municipales et cantonales de mars 2008 en métropole] ] . There were only seven incumbent mayors in Metropolitan France with non-European roots, all in rural communes with less than 5,000 inhabitants where the percentage of foreign stock population is close to nil:
*Auguste Senghor (a nephew of Léopold Sedar Senghor), mayor of Le May-sur-Èvre (Maine-et-Loire, 3,891 inhabitants) since 1989 [Cite web |url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/speciales/politique/municipales_2008/20080105.OBS3584/auguste_senghor_se_presente_a_saintbriacsurmer.html |title=Auguste Senghor se présente à Saint-Briac-sur-Mer |publisher=Le Nouvel Observateur |date=2008-01-15 |accessed=2008-03-01] , was elected mayor of Saint-Briac (Ille et Vilaine, 2,054 inhabitants) where the incumbent mayor Brice Lalonde was no longer a candidate [ [http://elections.letelegramme.com/municipales-2008/regionales/bretagne/saint-briac-20080318-2725619_1261049.php Saint-Briac. De Lalonde à Senghor] , Le Télégramme, March 18 2008]
*Xavier Cadoret, born in Morocco as Karim Kadouri, PS mayor of Saint-Gérand-le-Puy (Allier, 1,029 inhabitants) since the death of the previous mayor in 1991, reelected in 1995 and 2001 [cite web |url=http://suffrage-universel.be/fr/cadoret.htm |language=French |title=Ils voient en moi un maire, pas un étranger |author=Ghislaine Buffard |publisher=Aujourd'hui en France |date=1997-02-26 |accessdate=2008-01-07 ]
*Éric Besson, born in Morocco from a Lebanese mother, since 1995 mayor (formerly PS) of Donzère (Drôme, 4,700 inhabitants)
*Mahfoud Aomar (Algerian parents), nonpartisan mayor of Guerchy (Yonne, 601 inhabitants) since 2001
*Kaddour Derrar, divers gauche mayor of Condette (Pas-de-Calais, 2,675 inhabitants) since 2001, when the former mayor endorsed him as his successor
*Pierre Pluton (Afro-Caribbean), UMP mayor of Évry-Grégy-sur-Yerre (Seine-et-Marne, 2,060 inhabitants) since 2001
*Jean-Claude Gautry (Afro-Caribbean), mayor of Paroy (Seine-et-Marne, 198 inhabitants) since 2001

The six who were again candidates in their "commune" were reelected in the first round with results varying from 60% to 88% of the votes, and Auguste Senghor, candidate in another commune far away from the previous one, was the only candidate elected there in the first round with 52% of the votes.

Two more small municipal councils elected mayors with non-European roots: Volvic (Puy-de-Dôme, 4,202 inhabitants) elected the Harki activist Mohand Hamoumou (miscellaneous right) and Morey (Saône-et-Loire, 184 inhabitants), Kader Atteye, whose parents came from Djibouti, but 5 councillors out of 11 resigned in protest over the election of a black mayor [Alain Bollery, [http://suffrage-universel.be/fr/atteyekader.htm La tristesse d'un maire noir] , Le Parisien, March 31, 2008] [Alexis De La Fontaine, [http://www.rtl.fr/fiche/79123/la-fronde-des-conseillers-municipaux-contre-un-maire-noir.html La fronde des conseillers municipaux contre un maire noir] , RTL, March 31, 2008]

Only one "candidat de la diversité" heading a list in a town of more than 10,000 inhabitants was elected in the first round: Eddie Aït, already a regional councillor and departmental leader for the Left Radical Party (centre-left) beat the incumbent UMP mayor of Carrières-sous-Poissy (Yvelines, 13,472 inhabitants) with 62.4% of the votes and was elected as mayor. Another was elected mayor after the second round, Philippe N'Guyen Tahnn (PS) in Vernon (Eure, 23,700 inhabitants)

The left-wing list headed by Samia Ghali (PS vice-president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur regional council) won in the first round in the VIIIth "secteur" (borough) of Marseilles (92,100 inhabitants) with 52.30%. Had the left won in Marseilles, she had been promised the first adjunct-mayorship, finally she was elected mayor of this "secteur", succeeding the incumbent Communist mayor.

The UMP list headed by Justice minister Rachida Dati got 49.50% in the first round in the VIIe arrondissement of Paris (55,700 inhabitants). She was elected "maire d'arrondissement" after the second round.

Results

ee also

*Paris municipal election, 2008
*Lyon municipal election, 2008
*Marseille municipal election, 2008

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/world/europe/13france.html?em&ex=1200373200&en=8d83de11471e08db&ei=5087%0A "New York Times" article, January 13 2008]
* [http://www.citymayors.com/politics/france-elections-08.html CityMayors.com elections page]