Sophia Chikirou, candidate for the radical-left La France Insoumise for Paris mayor, and Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, Socialist candidate, during a public debate organized by the Federation of Parisian Youth Groups, in Paris, on January 31, 2026. VALÉRIE DUBOIS/HANS LUCAS VIA AFP
Security, cleanliness, housing and the environment rank as the top four campaign themes for Paris City Hall's six main candidates, with each contender releasing a more or less comprehensive platform. But the divide between the right and the left has become especially pronounced on these issues, revealing two distinct visions for France's capital.
Read more Paris mayoral election: Who's running?
Security: A right-left divide over arming the police
In Paris, the municipal police, which will celebrate its fifth anniversary in 2026, has become a central issue for right-wing candidates. Rachida Dati (Les Républicains, LR, conservative), Pierre-Yves Bournazel (Horizons, center-right), Sarah Knafo (Reconquête!, far right) and Thierry Mariani (Rassemblement National, RN, far right) all propose arming municipal police officers and increasing their numbers from around 2,300 today to 5,000, 6,000, 8,000 and 8,350 officers, respectively.
