Ask Onix
Socialists and allies secure victories in France's largest cities
France's Socialist Party and its allies maintained their hold on the country's four largest cities-Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Lille-during Sunday's local elections, offering a glimmer of hope for mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential vote.
Far-left and far-right make inroads but fail to dominate
While the far-left and far-right parties gained ground in some areas, their advances were overshadowed by the resilience of centrist and traditional left-wing administrations. In Nice, an ally of Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) secured victory, while the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) won in Roubaix, a northern city with a strong working-class base.
However, alliances between the Socialist Party (PS) and LFI largely underperformed, particularly in long-standing PS strongholds like Clermont-Ferrand and Brest. Voters in these areas appeared to shift toward centrist or right-wing candidates instead.
Controversies and missteps shape election outcomes
LFI's electoral struggles were partly attributed to internal controversies, including accusations of antisemitism within its ranks. A parliamentary assistant linked to the party was recently charged with inciting the murder of a far-right student, while party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon faced backlash for remarks perceived as mocking the Jewish identity of the late Jeffrey Epstein.
Pierre Jouvet, the PS secretary-general, declared after the results:
"My conclusion from tonight is that the LFI wins nothing-and what is worse, it is the LFI that brings about defeat."
Pierre Jouvet, PS Secretary-General
In Paris, incumbent Socialist mayor Grégoire Doucet won re-election, continuing the city's left-wing governance. His predecessor, Anne Hidalgo, had implemented strict anti-car policies that remained popular with voters. Meanwhile, right-wing candidate Rachida Dati, a former minister under Nicolas Sarkozy and Emmanuel Macron, faced challenges due to her divisive campaign and an upcoming corruption trial.
Far-right gains in provincial towns, but mainstream parties prevail
The National Rally (RN), currently leading in presidential polls, fell short in key targets like Marseille and Toulon after opponents rallied against it. However, the party celebrated a symbolic victory in Nice, where Eric Ciotti of the UDR party defeated incumbent Christian Estrosi, signaling a shift in right-wing politics.
The RN also secured wins in smaller towns such as Montargis, Carcassonne, and La Seyne-sur-Mer, though it lost in Villers-Cotterêts, north of Paris.
Macron's Renaissance party notched a significant win in Bordeaux, where former minister Thomas Cazenave is poised to unseat the Green incumbent. In Le Havre, former prime minister Édouard Philippe, a potential centrist candidate for the 2027 presidential election, won decisively, fulfilling a personal pledge to secure his home city before considering a national run.
Implications for the 2027 presidential race
The elections underscored the growing influence of the far-left in urban peripheries, where immigrant working-class communities and younger, progressive voters are concentrated. Meanwhile, the far-right RN solidified its presence in provincial France, outside major cities.
Yet the night's biggest takeaway was the resilience of mainstream parties. Their strong performance suggests that, in a presidential runoff against extremist candidates, centrist and traditional parties may still hold the advantage. The lingering question, however, is what happens if the runoff pits two extreme candidates against each other.
