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Ahead of the 2026 municipal elections, La Dépêche du Midi offers you an overview of the candidates, alliances and dynamics at work in some of France’s main cities.
As the next municipal elections, scheduled for March 2026, La Dépêche du Midi offers you an overview of the different situations in the main cities of France.
Paris
Anne Hidalgo will not be a candidate in 2026 for the third term as mayor of Paris, she prefers to support him Remi Feraud to prepare to follow. Senator PS is one of his biggest fans. At 53, the former mayor of the 10th arrondissement, who chairs the metropolitan group in the Paris Council, “has the necessary determination, seriousness and unifying ability” to be a senior – factor on Paris, according to Anne Hidalgo. Features that are put to the test like the campaign and the election should be strictly within the PS itself. Among the known candidates, there is one who knows Anna Hidalgo: her first deputy Emanuel Gregorywith whom she is at odds, she announced herself as a candidate to “reduce tension” and be a “reconciliation mayor of Parisians”. The 46-year-old former PS leader has already inflicted a crushing defeat on former minister Clément Beaune in the legislative elections.
Read also:
Municipal elections 2026: why Anne Hidalgo will not run for mayor of Paris
On the Macronist side, two names are circulating: the former Prime Minister, Gabriel Attaland the current Minister of Culture, Data Rachidaalso mayor of the 7th arrondissement in Paris. Both personalities are among the favorites according to an Ipsos poll published on 18 November The Parisian. 42% of those questioned believe that the former Prime Minister would make a good mayor of Paris, followed by Rachida Dati (39%). However, the man who will come out on top of this election has never confirmed that he wants to be the mayor of Paris. Another figure from the president’s camp, Pierre-Yves Bournazelwho was MP for Horizons and supported by Edouard Philippe, is also a candidate. There is no official application among the Ecologists, but there is a name David Belliarddeputy mayor of Paris in charge of the transformation of public space and transport, circulating. Yannick Jadotsenator from Paris, also take a position. Other names are mentioned as John Brossatt for PCF, Sophia Chikirou for LFI and Thierry Mariani for the RN.
Marseilles
“Benoît Payan (former PS) is our natural list leader,” Samia Ghali said in it Provence about the outgoing mayor. The deputy leader (DVG) of Marseille wants a left-wing union list in 2026. She knows the fight will be tough and Benoit Payan it should be the focus of every attack. And they come from all sides, first from the deputy minister Sabrina Agresti-Roubache (Renaissance) which marks the end: “I will play my part no matter what happens in 2026 so that the city changes”, says the man in charge of the ‘Marseille en grand’ plan . Also on the right, we are preparing our weapons, with Renaud Muselier, the president of the Department, and Martine Vassal, the head of the department, who intend to find the candidate who will take Marseille back from the left. Another person who could rearrange the Marseille cards: Sebastien Delogu (LFI). Very popular in some neighborhoods of Marseille, deputy Insoumis had left the door open when asked about a possible appeal in September “For now, I am deputy – boss. If someone asks me, I could think about it,” he said Southern Radio.
If one camp has already marked its borders, it is the National Rally (RN). The party scored a major blow in Bouches-du-Rhône by winning the by-election of Rognac on Sunday, November 24. “A historic victory” and a “strong message”, according to the MP French Allisiothe party’s potential candidate.
Lyon
The ecologist Gregory Doucet he is already a candidate for re-election. “In the Rhône region, the central block made up of the parties of the Renaissance, Horizons, Modem and Radical Party, has elected the group,” it was announced in a joint press release. Thanks to ” broad coalition”, they hope to win against “the NFP teams, in Lyon and on the French mainland” by presenting a single bid in these two elections. The candidates in the first half of 2025, according to BFMTV. Right, Pierre Oliver (LR), the current mayor of the 2nd arrondissement, it is not surprising that he is the “natural candidate” in 2026.
If Grégory Doucet is already a candidate, he may have to deal with the sectors on the left. The deals made in 2020, especially with LFI, seem to be a long way off. The mayor of Lyon has even appeared with François Ruffin, who is now loved by the Insoumis, in recent weeks. Should we see a sign there? “What I’ve heard is that it’s socialists who don’t want a union, I’ve heard about the Greens who don’t want one. he does not refuse to present the Insoumis candidate if there is a disagreement. Will the capital of Gaul be affected?
Bordeaux
The ecologist Pierre Hurmicwho took Bordeaux city hall from the right in 2020, is expected to run again in 2026. As in Lyon, the outgoing green mayor faces complicated negotiations with his allies left. Objective: to be able to present yourself under one application, with the PS, LFI and others behind it. Pierre Hurmic will need him a lot in this historic stronghold of the right as an alliance is being prepared in front of him. That of his two 2020 rivals: Nicholas Florian (L-R), Alain Juppé’s successor, and the former Macronist minister Thomas Cazenave. An alliance that resulted in the creation of an inter-opposition group “to prepare for the dates of the coming months”.
Nice
Comfortably elected to Nice city hall in 2020, Christian Estrosi (Horizons) is a candidate in 2026. If the Ifop poll, published this Monday, November 25 by The Tribunehe put it in a bit more as a favorite for his own success, there are definitely downsides. And this shadow is called Eric Ciotti. As is often the case on the Côte d’Azur, the two men on the right should come face to face. So 61% of the respondents said they were “satisfied” with the mayor of Nice but at the same time, 53% think that Eric Ciotti would make a good mayor. Patrick German (PS), reached 42% “yes”, ahead of him Mireille Damianono label and candidate Nupes, with 36%. Onward Juliette Chesnel-Rouxpresident of the environmental group at Nice town hall (35%) and Benoît Kandelthe head of the local RN (35%).
Lille
There will be something new near the Belfry of Lille. As mayor since 2001, Martine Aubry will leave City Hall after a 4th consecutive term. In 2020, she was ahead of her environmental rival by 227 votes Stéphane Baly (EELV). The latter will be a candidate again with the hope of stealing the environmentalists of a new city from the PS. In the Macronist camp, Violette gamewho came 3rd in 2020, is a candidate again. Roger VicotThe PS Deputy Leader for the 11th Northern constituency, also announced that he was a candidate in October. On the LR side, yes Louis Delemerwho will represent the party. For other training courses, candidates have not been announced yet.
2024-11-27 05:35:00
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Considering the article’s insights into city-specific dynamics, which city’s election outcome holds the most potential to serve as a bellwether for broader national trends in the 2027 presidential election?
## Open-ended Discussion Questions on Upcoming French Municipal Elections
This article provides a snapshot of the political landscape in key French cities ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. Let’s delve deeper into these topics with some open-ended questions:
**Thematic Section 1: Political Landscape & Key Players**
* **Across the cities mentioned, what common trends or challenges do you see emerging in the political landscape?** (Consider factors like the rise of ecologist parties, the fracturing of left-wing alliances, and the strength of the right.)
* **Which potential candidates stand out to you, and why? What makes them compelling or concerning?**
* **The article highlights potential alliances and conflicts. How do you think these relationships might evolve in the lead-up to the elections, and what impact could they have on the outcome?**
**Thematic Section 2: City-Specific Dynamics**
* **Paris:** How might Hidalgo’s departure reshape the political landscape in the capital? What are the biggest challenges facing Paris, and which candidates are best positioned to address them?
* **Marseille:** The article mentions tensions between different left-wing factions. How might these divisions impact their chances of success against the right? Can Marseille break free from its history of political instability?
* **Lyon:** Grégory Doucet seeks re-election, but faces potential challenges from both within his own party and from the right. What are the key issues at play in Lyon, and which candidate might appeal to the broadest base of voters?
* **Bordeaux:** The article suggests a potential alliance between the right-wing candidates. Could this unite them against Pierre Hurmic and the Greens?
* **Nice:** Estrosi faces a strong challenge from Ciotti. What are the key differences between these two right-wing figures? How might national politics influence the local race in Nice?
* **Lille:** With Martine Aubry stepping down, what might be the long-term impact on French socialism? Who is best positioned to lead Lille into the future?
**Thematic Section 3: Big Picture Implications & Future Trends**
* **What does the current political rhetoric and positioning tell us about the broader direction of French politics?**
* **What are the potential implications of these local elections for national politics? How might they shape the leadership and policies of the major parties?**
* **What do the challenges and opportunities facing these cities reveal about the broader societal issues confronting France?**
These open-ended questions are designed to encourage nuanced discussion and explore the multifaceted dynamics at play in the upcoming French municipal elections.
