The council in Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes in northeastern France chose Marie Cau as its new mayor on Saturday.

The 55-year-old ran on a platform of ecological sustainability and building the local economy.

Speaking to the AFP news agency, Ms Cau said she was "not an activist" and wanted to focus on municipal politics.

"People did not elect me because I was or was not transgender, they elected a programme," Ms Cau said. "That's what's interesting: when things become normal, you don't get singled out."

Read MORE

BBC NEWS