PARIS , March 09 , SPA -- French local elections got under way Sunday,a test for conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy, whoseplummeting popularity has given an advantage to the left, AP reported. People across France were voting in a first round to electmayors, deputy mayors and municipal councilors. The finalround is March 16. Ten months after Sarkozy's election, the economy remainssluggish and he has backed off from many of the sweepingreforms that he promised before his election. The left, led by the Socialists, hopes voters will punishSarkozy, and it also wants to turn the tide after a wave ofvictories by conservatives in the last municipal elections,in 2001, and a defeat in the May presidential election. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/534585