In Aude, a department hit by the wine crisis and the 2025 summer fires, the Rassemblement National (RN) is preparing a targeted offensive for the 2026 municipal elections. Buoyed by three deputies elected in 2024, the far-right party aims at several emblematic towns. Marine Le Pen has voiced the ambition to capture town halls in this favorable region.
The choice of Narbonne for the RN's May 1st gathering in 2025 was no accident, following Perpignan in 2024. Marine Le Pen stated there the desire to « take town halls in a region and department that smile on us ».
Aude, one of France's poorest departments, is still scarred by the fires that ravaged the Corbières region this summer, affecting areas from the coast to rural communes and up to Carcassonne. With three deputies elected in 2024 across three constituencies, the RN aims to build on this momentum. Maxime Bot, 30, the departmental delegate and parliamentary assistant to Julien Rancoule, will head the list in Limoux, a town of 10,500 known for its carnival and sparkling blanquette wine. « We want to continue the momentum and convert trials into successes in several towns », he assures. The strategy focuses on large towns and villages where the RN scored over 55% in the legislative elections, targeting emblematic municipalities.
Key targets include Narbonne, Gruissan, Lézignan-Corbières, and Castelnaudary, where an extreme-right list will run for the first time. Hopes are particularly pinned on Carcassonne. Christophe Barthès, elected in the 1st constituency with 61.44% of the vote against Philippe Poutou (New Anticapitalist Party) in 2024, was designated head of the list at the start of the year and is already running an intense campaign. « Our strategy will focus on large towns or villages. We scored over 55% in the legislatives, we can win some emblematic municipalities », estimates Maxime Bot.
This offensive comes amid a persistent wine crisis, boosting the RN's appeal in a vulnerable department.