Paris and Marseille in focus as French vote in local election runoffs - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqAFBVV95cUxPc0tqNzJVVHJXQ3NCd2NoSkdTZi1BcG4yNlBWUzFJYVJmNnhzQXh4TFdJMXI0WEc1V0g2TWVTQ1FGRjFPSE54NUNQdFVHbW02amF3dlFQY3J0ckxBSThPOFpWUWNScVJ3Vnh1amljWk5ja3JJOFRBa3poS0hyTnJ0NE5aZGJYdXhKc28zSG9iUjBmcW9STThCeGhQT2ZCLVAtSnJLU3F1QkU?oc=5" target="_blank">Paris and Marseille in focus as French vote in local election runoffs</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

French voters returned to the polls on Sunday for the final round of municipal elections across over 1,500 communes, with key cities like Paris, Marseille, and Lyon in focus. The contests are seen as critical indicators of political momentum ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In the first round of France's municipal elections, the far-right National Rally made notable gains, particularly in cities like Perpignan, Marseille, Nice, Nîmes, and Toulon. The party's momentum comes ahead of a crucial second round on March 22, seen as an important precursor to the 2027 presidential election.

The second round of France’s municipal elections on March 22, 2026, is pivotal, with 1,590 constituencies voting, including key cities like Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. While local factors influence each race, the contests have national implications, particularly in reflecting the balance of power among political factions.

The first round of the 2026 French municipal elections, held on March 15, produced significant results across major cities. In Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, backed by a left-wing coalition, led with 38%, while Rachida Dati (25.5%) from Les Républicains sought alliances for the second round. In Marseille, incumbent left-wing mayor Benoît Payan narrowly edged out far-right RN candidate Franck Allisio.