French Municipal Elections: Second Round Results & Key Issues 2026

France held the first round of municipal elections on Sunday, March 15, 2026, with significant gains reported by the Rassemblement National (RN) and La France Insoumise (LFI), according to results tallied Monday, March 16th. Nationwide, participation reached 57.17%, representing a substantial increase from the 44.66% recorded in 2020, which was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but a notable decrease compared to the 62.14% seen in 2014.

The results indicate a shifting political landscape, with both RN and LFI securing victories in several cities during the first round, either by retaining mayoral positions or unseating incumbents. These parties are also demonstrating increased competitiveness in major urban centers, notably Marseille for RN and Toulouse for LFI. The gains come as traditional left-wing parties, particularly the Parti Socialiste (PS), face challenges. While the PS maintains a strong presence in cities like Paris, Marseille and Montpellier, It’s struggling in historically socialist strongholds such as Nantes and Lille.

Europe Écologie Les Verts (EELV) also experienced a mixed outcome. The party continues to lead in cities won during the 2020 “green wave,” including Bordeaux and Lyon, despite a competitive race in Lyon between Grégory Doucet and Jean-Michel Aulas. However, EELV has not been able to replicate its success across the board, particularly in Strasbourg.

The elections are being closely watched in fourteen cities across France, including Nantes, Marseille, Strasbourg, and Lille, as they head to a second round. The outcome in these cities will be pivotal in determining the overall balance of power. The list of cities being closely monitored also includes Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Lille, Rennes, Toulon, Reims, Saint-Étienne, and Le Havre.

The first round results have prompted scrutiny of the political strategies employed by various parties. In Marseille, the performance of Benoît Payan, the incumbent mayor, is under observation after he declined to form an alliance with La France Insoumise. The implications of this decision for his chances of retaining office remain to be seen.