French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday (March 15) cast his ballot in France’s municipal elections in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far right and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential election.

Voting started at 8 a.m. (0700GMT) and ends at 8 p.m. (1900GMT) and preliminary results will be released shortly after.

In many medium to large cities, there will be a second round on March 22.

Mayors lead nearly 35,000 municipalities in the country, from major cities to villages with only a few dozen residents. Local results can shape national momentum, especially so close to a presidential election which opinion polls show the far-right National Rally (RN) could potentially win.

At midday, voter turnout was low at around 19%, just one percentage point up from the midday turnout rate in the first round of the 2020 local elections during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also down from 23% in 2014.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, ARRIVING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION, GREETING OFFICIALS

2. MACRON STANDING WITH LE TOUQUET MAYOR, DANIEL FASQUELLE

3. MACRON WALKING, GREETING OFFICIALS

4. VARIOUS OF MACRON GREETING SUPPORTERS INSIDE POLLING STATION

5. VARIOUS OF MACRON AND FIRST LADY, BRIGITTE MACRON, GREETING POLLING STATION WORKERS AND GETTING VOTING MATERIALS

6. MACRON COUPLE WALKING INTO VOTING BOOTHS

7. MACRON’S LEGS

8. MACRON COUPLE WALKING OUT OF VOTING BOOTHS AND GREETING POLLING STATION WORKERS

9. MACRON DROPPING BALLOT INTO BALLOT BOX AND SIGNING REGISTER

10. BRIGITTE MACRON DROPPING BALLOT INTO BALLOT BOX AND SIGNING REGISTER, MACRON STANDING BY

11. MACRON WALKING, GREETING SUPPORTER

12. MACRON SPEAKING WITH VOTERS

13. VARIOUS OF MACRON GREETING AND SHAKING HANDS WITH SUPPORTERS OUTSIDE POLLING STATION

14. MACRON GREETING CHILDREN AND KISSING THEM ON HEAD

15. MACRON POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH SUPPORTERS

16. MACRON SIGNING BALL AND GIVING TO CHILD

17. CROWD OUTSIDE POLLING STATION