French Mayoral Elections Put Far-Right Momentum to the Test Ahead of Presidential Race
French voters went to the polls on Sunday in local mayoral elections widely viewed as a key indicator of the far-right’s strength and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year’s presidential vote.
Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. (0700 GMT) and will close at 8 p.m., with preliminary results expected shortly afterward. Mayors preside over nearly 35,000 municipalities, ranging from major cities to villages with just a handful of residents. Local outcomes are closely watched for their potential to shape national political momentum.
Opinion polls suggest the far-right National Rally (RN) could capitalize on these elections to boost its presidential prospects. In Marseille, France’s second-largest city, RN candidate Franck Allisio is virtually tied with incumbent Socialist Mayor Benoît Payan in first-round polls, giving the party an unprecedented opportunity to capture a major urban stronghold.
“If the people of Marseille make a brave choice … it will embolden and enlighten the French on the choice they will make next year,” Allisio told Reuters.
Voter turnout at midday remained low at around 19%, a slight increase from the 18% turnout at the same point during the first round of the 2020 local elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but down from 23% in 2014.
At a polling station in Marseille, construction worker Serge, 61, expressed ambivalence toward the RN. “They are not worse than the others. It won’t change anything. Nothing changes, and that is the problem,” he said, noting that security was his main concern in this election.
