France is preparing to vote in town council elections, whose results will be closely analysed for trends ahead of next year's presidential votes.
A strong showing for Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) would be a boost for the nationalist right - even as she awaits a judicial decision on whether she can stand for head of state in 2027.
More broadly the six-yearly municipal elections - which take place in two rounds over the next successive Sundays - will be a test of how far mainstream parties are prepared to go in forming alliances with the far left and far right.
Politics in France has become increasingly polarised, as in much of Europe, and traditional parties have found it harder to win elections without at least tacit support from formations on their outer flank.
But this leads to accusations of pandering to extremism which in turn can cost votes in the centre.
