US EditionFrance’s far right makes gains in first-round municipal elections as major cities head to runoff
The far-right National Rally strengthened local footholds in southeastern cities while most major urban centers face uncertain outcomes with runoff elections and alliance talks underway.
- France held the first round of municipal elections on Sunday with nearly 48.7 million voters participating, leaving major cities undecided while the far-right National Rally consolidated local presence in the southeast. Runoffs are scheduled for March 22.
- The National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, deployed 33 members of parliament to local races to build momentum for next year's presidential campaign. The party rebuilt on 2014 record results despite struggling in major urban centers.
- In Paris, centre-left candidate Emmanuel Grégoire emerged as the front-runner with almost 38% of the vote, aiming to succeed outgoing mayor Anne Hidalgo. He faces a tight runoff against conservative challenger Rachida Dati, who hopes to end 25 years of left-wing leadership.
- Political parties had until 6 p.m. on yesterday to negotiate alliances and merge lists in races with three or more candidates. These tactical negotiations are crucial as parties form blocs to block rivals or boost allies before the second-round vote.
- The results serve as a test for the 2027 presidential election, with mainstream groups facing pressure to unite against the far-right. The Socialist Party seeks to maintain independent platforms while navigating these urgent tactical alliances.
30 Articles
30 Articles
It was decided in the second round of the municipal elections. Emmanuel Macron destroyed by the vote. The Rn's right flies to Marseille.The results of the first round of the French municipal elections, held on Sunday, reserved surprises, more or less good, for practically all the transalpine parties. But there is a formation that came out with broken bones: the macronist one along with its allies. In fact, the party founded by President Emmanuel…
Associated Press News
France’s far right makes gains in first-round municipal elections as major cities head to runoff
France’s far right has made gains in the first round of municipal elections in the southeast, while big cities head to a runoff, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
Although municipal elections tend to follow local logic, with non-partisan lists in most of the 35,000 French localities, these allow the weight of the parties to be measured before the presidential election in 2027.
COUNTER-POINT - The first round of municipal elections allowed the unsubstantiated leader to strengthen his hand on a left desperately dependent.
At the end of the first round of the municipal elections, it is difficult to see clearly. Nevertheless, the National Rally and the insoubted France seem to have pulled their pin from the game. Adrien Gendre, head of the political service of TF1 and LCI, delivers his analysis. - Municipales 2026: the National Rally and "the left in the broad sense" as great winners of the first round of the elections? (Politics).
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