French president Francois Hollande has sacked his prime minister and replaced him with popular interior minister Manuel Valls after the Socialist party suffered major losses to the conservatives and far-right in the local elections.
France's far-right Front Nationale party appears to have claimed a second town in the second round of local elections in which they are expected to make significant gains.
With polls in some areas already closed, ITV News Europe Editor James Mates has tweeted:
The anticipated success in Beziers contrasted with a defeat elsewhere for the party of Marine Le Pen, which took an outright victory in the northern town of Henin-Beaumont in the first round.
Despite that success, the governing Socialists - the party of President Francois Hollande - are braced for big losses while the centre-right UMP is expected to do well.
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.