French going to polls in local elections

People in France have gone to the polls in the first round of the French regional elections.

The elections started at 8:00 am (0700 GMT) across 101 “departments” of France.

The French voters are choosing representatives for the departments, tasked with controlling issues like schools and welfare budgets.

Ruling Socialists are expected to suffer big losses against the National Front party. Opinion polls have given the anti-immigration front an unassailable lead in the competition. The far-right party led by Marine Le Pen came first in European elections last year.

“We’ll get stuck into the regions and then we’re off to invade the Elysee (presidential palace),” Le Pen said.

The party has made best use of a slump in economy, high unemployment, and a more general loss of trust in mainstream parties.

France, Europe’s second-biggest economy, is grappling with economic woes.

The French economy has been stagnant for years with an unemployment hovering around 10 percent.

France’s austerity policies have put its citizens under more financial pressure. Sales and retirement taxes have been raised, while massive cuts to social services have forced households to dip into their own pocket to cover for the government’s absence.

According to Le Monde newspaper, more than 43 million voters are expected to cast ballots in 2,054 councils in the first round.

The second round of the elections will be held in a week’s time on May 29.