European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 14, 1989, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page b the stars and stripes tuesday March 14,1989 ecologist party makes gains in French municipal elections Paris a the French voted sunday for new City councils in elections marked by a record Low turn out slight Progress for leftist parties and the surprising emergence of the ecologists. The socialists and communists who Hod Sun bled Tor months Over the formation of joint lists of Candi dates lost some of their support to the greens As the geologist party is known. The traditional right and Center right panics thermally far the Republic and Union for French democracy suffered in some areas at the hands of the extreme right National front. Turnout was estimated at Between 70 and 73.5 per cent the lowest for municipal elections since the end of world War ii. Turnout in the last municipal elections in 198.3 was is. Percent. In municipalities where no list won an absolute majority a second round of voting will be held next Sun Day. That balloting will include Alt lists that received at least 10 percent of the first Vole. With about 70 percent of the vote a ported sunday night the Venlo gifts. Never previously a Force in l ram a Wen expected to win Between 4 and 5 percent of the Vuic nationally and More in some areas such As 12.8 percent in Strasbourg and .14. Percent in Saint Brittle in Lille in Northern France where the mayor is Pierre Mauro head of the nation s governing socialist party the greens won a