The far-right Rassemblement National was defeated in Marseille, Toulon and Nîmes, cities that seemed within reach. But the party consolidated its stronghold areas in France's southeast and northeast by winning dozens of mayoralties.

The results of the municipal elections will have national significance, as the municipal councillors elected on Sunday will, in turn, vote for half of the country's senators in…

The vote on Sunday, March 22, will provide valuable national insights, with a focus on the far-right's result, the impact of mergers or divisions within the left and right and the…