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4w ago

France’s Municipal Elections Begin Sunday in a Key Test Before 2027

The first round triggers a week of runoff bargaining under a media blackout with a Tuesday 6 p.m. deadline for second‑round filings.

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Jordan Bardella, who might run for president next year, shows up to support his far-right party's candidate in the southern city of Perpignan on February 28
The race looks tight in Paris between Socialist candidate Emmanuel Gregoire and right-wing former minister Rachida Dati
Leftist mayor Benoit Payan has warned Marseille falling into the hands of the far right would be 'an earthquake for the country'

Overview

  • Voting takes place nationwide across more than 35,000 communes, with polls opening at 8 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m. in smaller cities and 8 p.m. in major ones such as Paris, Marseille and Lyon.
  • Pre‑election restrictions start Saturday, barring campaigning and media reporting on specific local races until after voting ends on Sunday.
  • In the two‑round system, a list wins outright with more than 50 percent in round one; otherwise any list topping 10 percent advances to the March 22 runoff, with alliances negotiated before the Tuesday 6 p.m. cutoff.
  • The results are viewed as an indicator for the 2027 presidential race, with the National Rally expected to gain ground and fielding slates in roughly 600 municipalities.
  • Key battlegrounds include a tight Paris contest between Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire and conservative Rachida Dati, a far‑right challenge in Marseille, and a high‑profile test for ex‑prime minister Édouard Philippe in Le Havre.