The Rassemblement National's candidate for the municipal elections in Blois, Marine Bardet, in Blois, on February 21, 2026. KAMIL ZIHNIOGLU FOR LE MONDE
Six hundred and fifty, according to Jordan Bardella; 750, claims Marine Le Pen. As the municipal elections on March 15 and 22 approach, the two leaders of the Rassemblement National (RN) boasted about the number of cities in which the far-right party is fielding candidates. Their estimates, and their claim of a "record," are inaccurate. According to a count by Le Monde, the RN and its proxies will field candidates in nearly 550 towns with more than 3,500 residents – fewer than they hoped. And in towns with over 10,000 residents, the RN will have fewer candidates than in 2014 or 1995.
The party leadership has been more discreet about its ambitions for actual victories. "Several dozen," said officials cautiously. This is not surprising for a party that controls only 13 municipalities, despite riding a clear electoral wave – winning 31.37% of the vote in the European elections and 33.2% in the first round of the snap legislative elections, both in 2024. Yet the upcoming presidential election encourages modesty. "We'd rather have a few showcase cities for the party than a lot of wins that could turn into liabilities for the presidential race," warned Aleksandar Nikolic, a member of the European Parliament running for mayor of Tours, as early as summer 2025. "The idea is not to slow the party's momentum for 2027."
