Voters cast ballots in French municipal elections

Voters began casting their ballots for mayors in top French cities on Sunday ahead of next year's presidential election. The local ballots were being closely watched to gauge the mood on the ground and potential party alliances. Most of the country's villages, towns and boroughs elected their leaders in a first-round last weekend, but the races went to run-offs in about 1,500 communes, including bigger urban centers.

The race is tight between leftist Emmanuel Gregoire and his runner-up, right-wing ex-minister Rachida Dati with the left battling to keep Paris while the far-right eyes gains before the election of current President next year.