Will Key French Cities Elect Far-Right Mayors in Upcoming Municipal Elections?

France Holds Local Elections Ahead of Presidential Vote

On Sunday, French citizens will cast their ballots in local elections to elect mayors and city council members, marking the final step before the country’s presidential vote next year. The municipal elections, which take place one year prior to the presidential election, provide insight into France’s current political landscape.

According to preliminary results from the first round, the National Rally party, a far-right party, performed slightly better than initially predicted. However, they still made gains in key southern cities, including Nice, Toulon, and Marseille. Jean-Francois Poupelin, a journalist at Marsactu in Marseille, noted that the results were “worse than expected” for the National Rally, but also observed that they had increased their presence in municipalities compared to 2020.

The far-right party currently holds a majority in 17 municipalities and is leading in an additional 60 municipalities. The largest cities, Nice and Toulon, appear poised to elect far-right mayors. In Marseille, incumbent mayor Benoit Payan is locked in a run-off with National Rally candidate Franck Allisio.

Abstention rates were also notable, with voter turnout in the first round reaching 57 percent, the second-lowest in France’s Fifth Republic history. Voter abstention was particularly low in working-class neighborhoods, where left-wing party France Unbowed LFI had expected to perform well.

Baptiste Colin, a 31-year-old theatre production assistant in Marseille, expressed concern about the rise of the National Rally. “Many people around me didn’t vote,” he said. “There’s a lack of interest.” Colin also noted that some voters felt that the elections were unnecessary due to the party’s strong showing in polls.

Rim-Sarah Alouane, a legal scholar and associate researcher at University Toulouse Capitole, observed that the results suggest a growing permeability between the traditional right-wing party and the far-right. “The 2026 municipal elections can be seen as an early test before the next presidential cycle,” she said.

Source: Al Jazeera