The right won Limoges, Tulle, Brest and Clermont-Ferrand in the second round of the 2026 municipal elections, according to Le Figaro. It holds Toulon and takes Besançon, but fails in Nîmes and Paris. Bruno Retailleau, Republicans' president, aimed for a 'blue wave' in France.
Results from the second round of the 2026 French municipal elections indicate strong performance by Les Républicains (LR) and the right. The right captured Limoges, Tulle, Brest and Clermont-Ferrand, described as historic wins. It also took Besançon and held Toulon against the Rassemblement national (RN). In Nîmes, the largest city previously led by LR, Franck Proust finished third with 21.51% of votes, losing to the outgoing majority. In Paris, Rachida Dati received 41.18% according to Interior Ministry figures, versus 50.81% for Emmanuel Grégoire, who retains city hall. LR advanced 55 lists to the second round in towns over 3,500 residents, plus 704 labeled 'divers droite' or 'union à droite'. In the first round, mayors including Jean-François Copé in Meaux, François de Mazières in Versailles, David Lisnard in Cannes and Philippe Juvin in La Garenne-Colombes were elected or reelected. Bruno Retailleau, elected LR president last May, sought to 'make a blue wave rise in France'. These local outcomes bolster the right's territorial foothold ahead of September senatorial elections.
