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.

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.