Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes (France) (AFP)

France's first transgender mayor has vowed to wake up her village in northern France after taking office at the weekend in a step hailed by activists as a breakthrough. Marie Cau vowed to develop social and environmental policies in the village of Tilloy-lez-Marchiennes after receiving her honorary sash of office.

Cau won a decisive first round victory in France's local elections on March 15, as her "Deciding Together" manifesto garnered the majority of the total votes in the 550-strong village, located close to the Belgian border. The 50-year-old's inauguration took place over two months after the election -- instead of the normal five days -- as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I'm not at all surprised by the result," said Cau, who has a steady blue gaze. An engineer, she described herself as first and foremost working like a company boss, with a passion for agriculture and the environment. Read more via France 24