Two weeks before the candidacy deadline, the charter launched by the Rassemblement National (RN) to rally right-wing mayors has been signed by only a few dozen elected officials. This initiative, aiming to secure their support in exchange for programmatic commitments, is seen as disconnected from local realities. Julien Sanchez, the RN's campaign director, had boasted of its potential success in December 2025.
The Rassemblement National (RN) had bet on a charter to convert local elected officials to the far-right party's ideas ahead of the March 15 and 22, 2026, municipal elections. This document stipulated that candidates outside the RN would receive support from Le Pen's deputies in exchange for their votes in senatorial elections, endorsement for the presidential race, and commitments such as no increase in local taxes, strengthening of the municipal police, and rejection of subsidies to immigrant aid associations.
On December 1, 2025, Julien Sanchez, the RN's campaign director, claimed that 'many local elected officials solicit us and have solicited our deputies in their constituencies,' threatening to run RN lists against recalcitrant mayors. However, despite the party's electoral growth, this strategy has not made the RN a dominant local player.
Fifteen days before the February 26 candidacy deadline, only a few dozen charters have been signed, based on press reports and RN cadres' confirmations. No national investiture commission has been convened, with the setup centralized by Julien Sanchez, who did not respond to Le Monde's requests. The operation is criticized for its 'complete disconnect' from the 'local terrain,' limiting its impact as the municipal elections approach.
