politics
March 23, 2026
The Guardian view on France after Macron: local elections offer clues to seeing off the far-right threat
Victories in Paris and Marseille suggest a united left can reclaim centre-ground voters. But the end of Macronism is leaving a complex political landscape
TL;DR
- United left parties, excluding Jean-Luc Mélenchon's LFI, won mayoral elections in Paris and Marseille.
- Progressive outcomes were weaker outside major cities, with some losses to the center-right.
- Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National (RN) did not achieve major wins but saw breakthroughs in smaller towns.
- The conservative candidate in Nice, backed by RN, won, potentially encouraging others to abandon the 'republican front'.
- The end of Macron's presidency leaves France divided, with opportunities for both center-left and center-right.
- The Socialists and Greens lead in the three largest cities, while Les Républicains are reviving in prosperous towns, and LFI holds sway in the banlieues and among young, educated voters.
- The next presidential election is likely to feature a far-right candidate, with success depending on Les Républicains retaining voters and the left uniting around a broad-appeal candidate.
- The success of progressive forces without Mélenchon in these elections is a key takeaway.
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