Socialists battle to hold Paris in key mayoral elections across France

Emmanuel Grégoire is facing a challenge from Rachida Dati on the right who is behind in the opinion polls.

In a pivotal debate held on March 18, 2026, Socialist candidate Emmanuel Grégoire, the frontrunner in the Paris mayoral race, was fiercely attacked by both left-wing Sophia Chikirou (La France Insoumise) and right-wing Rachida Dati. The debate, broadcast on BFM-TV, highlighted intense rivalries and frequent disruptions, with the moderator struggling to maintain order—mostly due to Dati's aggressive interruptions. Despite leading the first round with 37.98% of the vote, Grégoire faces a challenging second-round scenario, now contending with Dati, whose position was bolstered by alliances with center-right and far-right candidates.

Following the first round of the Paris mayoral election on March 15, only three candidates are advancing to the March 22 runoff. This comes after Sarah Knafo (Reconquête!, far right) withdrew her candidacy on March 17, shortly after a merger was announced between the lists of Rachida Dati (Les Républicains, right wing, 25.46%) and Pierre-Yves Bournazel (Horizons, center-right, 11.34%). Knafo stated her withdrawal was to help unite the right against the left, emphasizing that she stepped aside for the sake of Paris—not for Dati specifically. Despite withdrawing, her performance in the 16th arrondissement secures her a spot on its council with three running mates.

In the first round of the 2026 Paris mayoral election, Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire emerged as the frontrunner with 38.04% of the vote, significantly ahead of his main right-wing rival Rachida Dati (Les Républicains), who garnered 25.41%. The results confirmed the strategic expectations of left-wing coalition members like Saïd Benmouffok, who emphasized the impact of a divided right and potential second-round support from radical left and centrist voters. Three other candidates surpassed the 10% threshold to qualify for the second round: Sophia Chikirou (La France Insoumise) with 11.74%, Pierre-Yves Bournazel (Horizons) at 11.33%, and far-right candidate Sarah Knafo (Reconquête!) with 10.38%. Grégoire appealed to all progressive voters to unite under his candidacy to prevent a right or far-right victory, though he maintained his refusal to directly ally with Chikirou, despite her softened stance.

En la primera vuelta de las elecciones municipales en Francia, celebradas el 15 de marzo de 2026, la izquierda logró una ventaja significativa en París. Emmanuel Grégoire, candidato socialista y sucesor de Anne Hidalgo, obtuvo entre un 35% y 37% de los votos, superando a Rachida Dati, candidata de los Republicanos, quien alcanzó solo un 25%. Estos resultados mejoran las predicciones previas y refuerzan las posibilidades de la izquierda de mantener el control de la capital. Grégoire destacó la importancia de impedir que la derecha o la extrema derecha, potencialmente aliadas, ganen la alcaldía. En contraste, Dati, tras una campaña muy mediática, reconoció las dificultades provocadas por la fragmentación del voto. La segunda vuelta dependerá en gran parte de las alianzas políticas, aún en formación. Mientras, en otras ciudades como Lyon y Marsella también se registraron sorpresas, con avances notables de la izquierda y un resurgimiento ecologista. La participación alcanzó un 57,6%, mejor que en 2020 pero aún por debajo de otras elecciones anteriores. Estas elecciones reflejan un cambio en el equilibrio político nacional y un avance limitado, aunque significativo, de la extrema derecha.