politics
March 15, 2026
French far-right party holds its biggest city in first-round local elections
National Rally leader urges voters to back party’s ‘common sense’ campaign in final round as it eyes taking another city
TL;DR
- Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally (RN), urged voters to support his party's "common sense and order" campaign in the final round of municipal elections.
- The RN retained control of Perpignan, its largest city, with Mayor Louis Aliot re-elected in the first round.
- The RN is aiming to win Toulon in a second-round runoff, but success may depend on opposition alliances.
- La France Insoumise (LFI) is seeking to increase its local representation before the next presidential election, with strong results in Lille and Roubaix.
- The French municipal elections are considered a test of the political climate before the 2027 presidential election.
- Voter turnout was low, estimated between 56% and 58.5%, leading to concerns about public apathy.
- Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, a potential centre-right presidential candidate, had a strong first-round performance in Le Havre.
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