Jeanne Barseghian, Strasbourg's ecologist mayor, launches her 2026 municipal campaign on December 17 amid strong opposition. Elected in a 2020 surprise, her list secured 47 out of 65 seats, but criticisms of the record and urban works are intensifying. The election promises to be open and contested.
In 2020, the 'green wave' brought ecologists to power in several French cities, including Strasbourg. Defying polls that ranked it third, Jeanne Barseghian's ecologist and citizen list, with her then 40 years old, took first place in the second round. This vote, hit by high abstention from the health crisis and a three-month gap between rounds, did not lead to the left-wing merger initially considered. The outgoing team thus seated 47 councilors out of 65, some experienced, others new to executive roles.
Five years on, as the 2026 municipals approach, candidates from the municipal opposition join forces to attack the green municipality's record. Criticisms target governance and tap into discontent fueled by major urban works disrupting the city. Amplified by social media, these voices echo in the streets, where some ecologist measures struggle for acceptance. Still, Barseghian's team, with her now 45, holds prospects in an election seen as open, much like other green strongholds under strain.