US EditionParis and Marseille in focus as French vote in local election runoffs
The runoffs test far-right National Rally strength and mainstream parties’ resilience ahead of 2027 presidential election in over 1,500 French communes.
- On March 22, 2026, French voters will elect mayors for Paris, Marseille and over 1,500 communes in the second and final round of municipal elections.
- The runoffs will test whether the far right can convert national momentum into control of major cities, with many races as three-way contests after tactical deals and withdrawals.
- In Marseille, Benoît Payan led with 36.70%, just ahead of Franck Allisio on 35.02% in the first round, shaping a tight runoff.
- Heading nearly 35,000 municipalities, mayors are among France's most trusted officials and local ballots reflect civic issues rather than forecast the April 2027 presidential election.
- The left has been fractured since the fatal beating last month of a far-right activist blamed on fringe leftists, and local negotiations have produced tactical three-way races with mixed RN results.
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France holds the second and final round of municipal elections ahead of 2027 presidential race
French voters returned to the polls Sunday for the second and final round of municipal elections. The vote is a test of the balance of power on France’s local political map before the 2027 presidential race begins to take shape.
French runoff elections — live updates
PARIS — Voters are heading to the polls across France Sunday for runoff elections to choose mayors and new city councils in highly competitive races. City halls in Paris, Marseille and other major French metropolises are up for grabs. Many of these races will also hold clues to how next year’s presidential race, which the far-right National Rally is tipped to win, might unfold. Keep an eye on Toulouse, where hard-left France Unbowed is looking …
The second round concerns around 1500 French cities where no electoral combination received more than 50% in the first round.
The first figure in this second round of municipal elections gives us some hope. At noon, 20.33% of voters voted. It's better than in 2020, but also than in 2014. There's clearly a slight start. This reflects the democratic stakes, with a rather tight mid-round campaign and very tight results in the country's major cities. (Policy).
The French vote on Sunday for the second round of municipal elections, an undecided vote in many major cities, including the capital Paris, against the background of the division of the left and the push of the far right.
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