France, March 12 -- Paris has around 2.1 million inhabitants and some 1.4 million of them are registered to vote in France's local elections on 15 and 22 March.

Winning Paris is a big prize - and carries hefty responsibilities. The mayor is head of the 163-seat Paris city council with a budget of €10.5 billion, controlling key areas such as housing, transport, waste, early childhood, culture, sports and green spaces across some 105 km².

For the first time in Paris, as in Marseille and Lyon, voters will cast two ballots simultaneously, with one list for district councils and another list citywide for the 163-seat Paris Council.

The six key contenders include well-known political figures Rachida Dati (conservative Republi...