In his final rally before the first round of municipal elections on March 15, Emmanuel Grégoire, candidate from the non-Mélenchonist left, urged Parisians to oppose the alliance between the right and far-right. He targeted rivals Rachida Dati and Sarah Knafo, accusing them of aiming to bring down the capital to prepare for the 2027 elections.
On March 12, 2026, Emmanuel Grégoire held his final major rally before the first round of municipal elections on March 15, at the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris's 11th arrondissement. The event featured a lively atmosphere reminiscent of the Parc des Princes stadium, with live-filmed processions from various parts of the capital and organizers prompting applause for each name on the list, akin to cheering football players.
Arriving like a rock star on a small stage in the center of the red track, Grégoire directed sharp criticisms at his rivals. He accused Rachida Dati, who was holding a simultaneous gathering at the Élysée Montmartre, and Sarah Knafo, the candidate backed by Éric Zemmour, of seeking to 'bring down' Paris to lay the groundwork for 2027. 'It took the Cirque d'Hiver to usher in Paris's spring,' remarked an ecologist cadre, highlighting the event's scale.
The socialists spared no effort for this closing rally, turning the venue into a vibrant electoral arena. Grégoire, a key figure in Parisian left-wing politics, aims to rally voters against what he sees as a united threat from the right and far-right in the mayoral race.