The reform of the municipal voting system for the 2026 elections in Paris, Lyon and Marseille ends over forty years of exception for these three major French cities. Enacted in 1982, the PLM law introduced a specific system that complicated electoral representation. From now on, these elections will align with the rules applied to other municipalities.
The 2026 municipal elections, scheduled for March 15 and 22, represent a turning point for Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. Until now, these three cities were governed by the PLM law, enacted in 1982 by Gaston Defferre, then Interior Minister. This legislation created a specific voting system, setting these municipalities apart from the national framework.
Under the old system, the election was doubly indirect. Voters did not choose the municipal council directly but rather arrondissement or sector councils. These councils then elected part of the municipal council members, who in turn selected the mayor. For arrondissements, the leading list automatically received half the seats, with the remainder distributed proportionally based on vote shares.
This setup often led to unexpected outcomes, as seen in Marseille in 1983. Jean-Claude Gaudin, the right-wing candidate, had an overall lead of about 2,500 votes over Gaston Defferre across the two rounds, but Defferre secured a majority on the municipal council thanks to the PLM system. Disappointed, Gaudin and his running mates walked out of the first municipal council meeting.
The reform aims to ensure better representation of the electorate by aligning the voting procedures with those of other French municipalities. Thus, voters will select lists that gain seats on the municipal council, which will directly elect the mayor. This change simplifies the process and strengthens local democracy in these metropolises.
