Zemmour proposes right-wing merger in municipal election runoff

Éric Zemmour, president of Reconquête, announced that his party will propose a merger of right-wing lists in the second round of the 2026 municipal elections. At a campaign launch in Saint-Mandé, he outlined a strategy to maximize scores in the first round before pursuing right-wing unity. He anticipates the Rassemblement National will reject the alliance but hopes for support from Les Républicains.

Éric Zemmour, fourth-place finisher in the 2022 presidential election, unveiled his strategy for the municipal elections scheduled for March 15 and 22, 2026, on Thursday evening. At a meeting with militants in a café in Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, he launched the local candidate Rémy Longetti's campaign. In this town where he garnered over 16% of the votes in 2022, Zemmour emphasized the initial goal of achieving « the highest scores everywhere » in the first round.

« We have not renounced our principle of right-wing unity (...) we will obviously propose the merger », he stated, including in cities where Reconquête leads. He predicted that the Rassemblement National « won't want it at any price », but was more hopeful regarding Les Républicains: « I don't want to prejudge anything », noting that LR officials have already rallied to a Reconquête candidate in Bourg-en-Bresse, Ain.

Zemmour views these municipals as « the last step before the presidential » election in 2027, a key moment to « root our ideas ». Candidates endorsed by his party would commit to denying subsidies to mosques, cutting aid to pro-migrant associations, and banning any manifestation of « wokism » in schools. This approach aims to strengthen nationalist presence ahead of national contests.

Relaterede artikler

Xavier Bertrand during TV interview, firmly rejecting far-right RN alliance and reaffirming republican front against extremes.
Billede genereret af AI

Xavier Bertrand reaffirms commitment to republican front against RN

Rapporteret af AI Billede genereret af AI

In an interview aired on December 7, 2025, Xavier Bertrand, LR president of the Hauts-de-France region, distanced himself from Nicolas Sarkozy's recent statements on potential alignment with the Rassemblement national (RN). He reiterated his fight against extremes—neither LFI nor RN—and rejected the idea of a 'union of the rights' that he sees as an alliance with the far right.

Despite some local rapprochements and voter porosity, there has been no mass movement from the right to the Rassemblement national ahead of the March 15 and 22, 2026 municipal elections. A close associate of Éric Ciotti envisioned a 'reverse republican front' against the left, drawing from the 1983 'thunder of Dreux'. On the RN side, Jordan Bardella indicated openness to discussions for union lists in the second round if faced with an extreme left threat.

Rapporteret af AI

Rachida Dati, Les Républicains (LR) candidate who came second in the first round of Paris municipal elections with 25.46% of votes, and Pierre-Yves Bournazel from Horizons-Renaissance with 11.34%, agreed to merge their lists on Monday afternoon. They aim to unite the right and center against Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, leading with 37.98%, and a divided left including Sophia Chikirou (LFI) at 11.73%.

In the second round of the 2026 municipal elections on March 22, the National Rally (RN) and its allies captured 36 towns, adding to 18 won in the first round. Key victories include Nice, Orange, and Montargis, per initial Interior Ministry results.

Rapporteret af AI

During the 2026 municipal election campaign, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, provocatively adopted Eric Zemmour's 'great replacement' rhetoric to praise a 'new France' that is increasingly diverse. This move aims to establish a counter-narrative on French identity ahead of the 2027 presidential election, where he expects a showdown with the National Rally on these issues.

France's municipal elections on March 15 and 22, 2026, loom as a key test for local democracy, one year before the presidential vote. They may reveal rising abstention rates signaling distrust in elected officials and point to the far right's growing influence. Mayors, the most popular figures, handle vital issues like housing and transport.

Rapporteret af AI

In Evry-Courcouronnes, the left fields two lists to reclaim the town hall, long led by Manuel Valls. Incumbent mayor Stéphane Beaudet, a former LR member now independent, seeks a fifth term amid a tense campaign involving incidents and threats.

 

 

 

Dette websted bruger cookies

Vi bruger cookies til analyse for at forbedre vores side. Læs vores privatlivspolitik for mere information.
Afvis