France heads to polls in uncertain municipal elections

Sunday 22 March 2026 - 12:00

French voters went to the polls Sunday for the second round of municipal elections, with outcomes uncertain in many major cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Toulouse. The vote comes amid divisions on the left and gains by the far-right.

The second round affects over 1,500 municipalities, mostly large cities. The first round saw many lists surpass 10% of the vote and move forward, but alliances, mergers, withdrawals, and negotiations between the rounds have made predictions difficult. The results are being closely watched as an early indicator of political dynamics ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In Paris, the right-wing candidate Rachida Dati faces Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, with leftist Sophia Chikirou staying in the race, creating a three-way contest. In Marseille, Socialist incumbent Benoît Payan benefits from the withdrawal of radical left candidates, giving him an edge over far-right RN candidate Franck Allisio.

Elsewhere, alliances between Socialists and left-wing parties such as the Insoumis have formed to counter the right. In Lyon, Green incumbent Grégory Doucet is in a close race with former football executive Jean-Michel Aulas. On the moderate right, former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe is favored in Le Havre.

The far-right Rassemblement National, France’s largest party following the 2024 legislative elections, is targeting Toulon, Nîmes, and Carcassonne, while hoping its ally Éric Ciotti in Nice can lead a broader strategy uniting right-wing factions ahead of 2027. This election highlights fractures on the right and the challenge posed by the growing influence of the extreme right.