At 46, Narbonne's outgoing mayor, independent Bertrand Malquier, unveiled his running mates two months before the first round of the 2026 municipal elections. Succeeding Didier Mouly who died in 2023, he aims to retain his seat against a divided left and two far-right lists, including the National Rally. He plans to continue the Mouly family legacy in this city of 56,700 residents.
Bertrand Malquier, a 46-year-old apolitical lawyer, is starting his first electoral campaign as a candidate for mayor of Narbonne in the 2026 elections. Appointed mayor in October 2023 by the municipal council following the death of Didier Mouly, aged 72, on October 8 of that year, he had previously served as first deputy since 2014. Didier Mouly, from the miscellaneous right, had been re-elected in 2020.
In a presentation at the Parc des Sports tent, Malquier revealed the names of his running mates, aiming to outpace his five opponents. He faces opposition including a fragmented left and two far-right lists, one led by the National Rally.
Malquier admits to taking some liberties compared to his predecessor's program. “I allowed myself some latitude on the program items that were close to my heart and on which we did not necessarily agree,” he stated. Among these choices is keeping the Grands Buffets in Narbonne, a restaurant serving 400,000 covers per year, whose founder was considering moving to Carcassonne due to tensions with Mouly.
The city of Narbonne, the largest in Aude with 56,700 residents, bears the mark of the Mouly family. Hubert Mouly, Didier's father, was elected mayor in 1971 and transformed the town as a “builder mayor,” equipping Narbonne with a sports and friendship park, an exhibition park, and a national stage theater. He resigned in 1999 after 28 years in power. His son Didier continued this legacy by inaugurating a 5,000-seat performance hall and contributing to the funding of Narbo Via, the museum of Roman heritage.
