Just "some" French as the election is only to replace half the representatives to the general councils of France's 100 départements.
No, they're not exactly the most exciting or stunning of elections (as emphasised by the low turn-out) , and these will be the last of their type as the whole system is changing in 2014.
While they have, for the most part, been contested principally on local issues rather than national ones (candidates are often "pillars of the local community" who already hold elected office of one sort or another at different levels ) they're also the final ones before next year's presidential elections.
And that means they are the last electoral "test" of any sort before campaigning for 2012 begins in earnest.
"Local" though, is obviously not the way the far-right Front National is approaching them.
At least not if you take a look at their promotional material.
Sure there are local candidates, but the really important vote as far as the party is concerned, seems to be next year's presidential one.
And the party's recently-elected leader, Marine Le Pen, is making the most of her surge in popularity (according to those seemingly endless opinion polls) and appeal to the general public at large by clearly attempting to stamp her mark.
Prior to the election; voters will have received flyers representing every party putting forward candidates.
Just take a look at the one the Front National sent out.
Le Pen's smiling face; the sort of woman (if you didn't know her political beliefs) you probably wouldn't mind having a chat with if you met her on the street.
And then there's that rather natty title "La Vague bleu marine" (marine blue wave), playing on her name and the her recent strong showing in the opinion polls.
Forget who the local candidate might be.
That's clearly not nearly as important, as far the party is concerned, as Marine Le Pen.
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