Two months after announcing her candidacy, Sarah Knafo of Reconquête ! is polling over 10% in the first round of Paris's 2026 mayoral race, ahead of RN's Thierry Mariani. Political scientist Frédérique Matonti argues in Le Monde that her approachable communication conceals an ultra-liberal, consumerist, and security-focused program.
Following her high-profile candidacy announcement on TF1 in January, Sarah Knafo—European MP for Reconquête ! and lead candidate in Paris's 16th arrondissement—has surged in polls for the 2026 municipal elections, exceeding 10% vote intentions in the first round, ahead of Rassemblement national's (RN) Thierry Mariani.
Political scientist Frédérique Matonti deems this unsurprising in a Le Monde op-ed. Éric Zemmour's Reconquête ! has historically outperformed RN in Paris, especially affluent areas: in 2022, Zemmour took 15.3% in the 8th arrondissement and 17.5% in the 16th (vs. 8.2% citywide), while Marine Le Pen got 5.5%. Expect a 'bourgeois far-right vote' confirmation, with second-round transfers and right-wing negotiations showing electorate shifts—accelerated by the Quentin Deranque controversy in Lyon.
Knafo benefits from pre-campaign media buzz, including her Trombinoscope award as political revelation. Matonti compares this to Zemmour's 2022 media hype, fueled by outlets' rightward tilt amid ownership consolidation (e.g., Vincent Bolloré) and appetite for provocative new faces.
Yet beneath her mild persona lies, per Matonti, an ultra-liberal, consumerist, and security-oriented program.
