French local elections: Are the electoral alliances strong enough to defeat the far right?

2026-03-12 - 05:23

Ballots are set to provide clearest indication so far of political temperature in runup to presidential election France’s voters go to the polls on 15 and 22 March for two rounds of municipal elections that will provide the clearest indication so far of the country’s political temperature in the runup to the presidential election next year. The ballots in 35,000 communes across France, ranging from small hamlets to large cities such as Paris, Lyon and Marseille, are a key test of the far-right National Rally (RN) and of the alliances that could hold it at bay – or help it to power. Continue reading...