Vote counting at a polling station in Marseille on March 15, 2026. FRANCE KEYSER/MYOP FOR LE MONDE
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re the 2026 municipal elections just local votes, or do they represent the first major test ahead of the 2027 presidential election? As results rolled in from cities across France, leading figures from the country's main political parties all claimed victory for their camp, while also outlining potential alliances and future strategies. Against the backdrop of the decline of President Emmanuel Macron's bloc at the local level, tensions are rising within the political blocs, with each party seeking to gain the upper hand by capitalizing on its candidates’ strong showings.
Early in the evening, far-right Rassemblement National (RN) party leader Jordan Bardella hailed the re-election of several RN mayors, such as in the southern town of Beaucaire and the city of Perpignan, all while extending "an open hand to right-wing lists" elsewhere. This is a major development for supporters of a union between the right and the far right.
Read more 2026 municipal elections: See the first-round results on our live map
