France's Socialists hold onto power in major cities in election boost for mainstream
Paris and Marseille are held by the Socialists in local elections which saw the nationalist right win in Nice and certain towns.
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Notable Quotes
"My conclusion from tonight is that the LFI wins nothing – and what is worse it is the LFI that brings about defeat."
— Pierre Jouvet , Politician
"Tonight we have made the demonstration that nothing can stand in the way of a people on the move. Next year the new France will sweep away the world of [President] Macron and his nefarious policies."
— Manuel Bompard , Politician
Key People
Christian Estrosi is a mainstream conservative candidate in Nice.
Eric Ciotti is a hard-right politician and candidate for mayor in Nice.
Former President of France.
Ecologist mayor of Lyon.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon is the leader of the far-left party La France Insoumise.
He is the coordinator of the France Unbowed party.
Marine Le Pen is the leader of the National Rally party.
Secretary-general of the Socialist Party.
Former culture minister and candidate for the mayorship of Paris.
Candidate for the mayorship of Paris from the radical right Reconquest party.
Locations
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All Coverage
Paris and Marseille are held by the Socialists in local elections which saw the nationalist right win in Nice and certain towns.
The French municipal elections on March 22, 2026, revealed a fragmented political landscape. Left-wing alliances, particularly those combining the Socialists, Greens, and the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI), suffered defeats in several cities like Limoges, Brest, and Clermont-Ferrand, highlighting internal tensions and diminishing electoral appeal. However, in strongholds like Lyon and Nantes, such coalitions found success. The far-right Rassemblement National (RN) made gains in mid-sized towns but failed to expand beyond Perpignan into major cities such as Toulon and Nîmes, signaling a persistent ceiling to its urban growth.
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