Paris and Marseille at the center of the dispute, with the far-right and the far-left hunting for the disenchanted vote

There are alliances “against nature”, but what is important for the different sectors is to stop the far-right Lepenists or the left-wing populists of France Insoumise (LFI), whom the socialists consider anti-Semitic. Olivier Faure, president of the Socialist Party, stated that there would be no agreement with LFI at the national level, but noted that he perfectly understood the option of his candidates to ally with said force for this second round.

At least 124,097 positions will be elected this Sunday. Some 16.9 million citizens are registered to vote, after a first round where representatives were already elected in 31,310 communes. The suspense remains for 1,526 positions. For the first time, the counting method will be the same in all of the country’s municipalities.

At 5 p.m., the participation rate was 48.10%, a lower figure than last Sunday. Unfortunately, three people died at the polling stations while carrying out their civic duty. Projections indicate that final participation will reach 57% at the close of the polls.

After the first round, the week was marked by mergers and withdrawals from strategic lists. The National Regrouping (RN) and France Insoumise, the two extremes of the political spectrum, will have a leading role tonight. According to a survey by Le Figaro, 55.5% of those consulted believe that these results will influence the 2026 presidential elections.

In the capital, the race for mayor pits the socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, who led the first round, against Rachida Dati, the Republican candidate supported by Macronism. While Pierre-Yves Bournazel’s list allied itself with the right and Sarah Knafo withdrew, LFI’s Sophia Chikirou remains in the race.

The polls give Grégoire 37.98% of the support, followed by Dati with 25.46%. Chikirou is in third position with 11.2%. However, other projections by Le Figaro suggest a much tighter scenario, with the socialist candidate reaching 45.5% compared to 44.5% for his main conservative rival.

In Marseille, the acting mayor, Benoît Payan (left coalition)competes against Franck Allisio and Martine Vassal, both from the independent right. For his part, in Toulouse, Jean-Luc Moudenc faces François Piquemal, representative of one of the numerous alliances between LFI and the Socialist Party.

Parisians celebrate the departure of Anne Hidalgo. The outgoing mayor, born in Seville, imposed a dogmatic style that turned the city into a permanent construction site. His administration left an unbearable traffic jam that caused the exodus of 200,000 families, added to an “ideological environmentalism” that exhausted even the environmentalist sectors after imposing changes without consultation.

Whoever wins has promised to return Paris to its lustercombat insecurity, stop chaotic works, facilitate traffic and restore cleanliness. The departure of the current official is seen as the great triumph of the night for many citizens.

The left has united to try to recover Aubervilliersa historically working-class area. After winning the first round, the outgoing mayor of the UDI, Karine Franclet, called for responsibility in light of the opposition coalition’s announcement. This city of almost 90,000 inhabitants belongs to the former “red belt” and the question is whether the left will be able to reverse the historic turn to the right that occurred in 2020.

The National Regrouping seeks to give the surprise in Ozoir-la-Ferrière. In this town of 21,000 inhabitants, Teddy Robin won the first round with 26.33% of the votes. It now faces an open four-way race, as three rival lists decided not to withdraw. A new political panorama is emerging and will be defined after the closing of the polling stations.

In this fragmented scenario, some residents fear a victory for the far-right, while others see it as “a breath of fresh air” or a necessary protest vote. The simple fact of presenting joint lists is perceived as an achievement for certain sectors: Patrick Chaimovitch managed to unite socialists and rebels in a common front against the right. His opponents, meanwhile, have focused their campaign under a concise slogan: “Against the extreme left.”