Rémi Lefebvre, professor of political science at the University of Lille, highlights the importance of municipal elections set to occur one year before the presidential vote. In an interview with Le Monde, he notes that despite prevailing local apolitical norms, candidates' party labels remain key for parties aiming to prove their territorial roots. He adds that it's hard to assess the national political confusion's effect on the campaign at this stage.
Rémi Lefebvre, professor of political science at the University of Lille, explains in an interview with Le Monde published on November 17, 2025, that the municipal elections, scheduled this year one year before the presidential vote, will influence the presidential leadership battle. "The presidential leadership battle will partly play out in the municipal elections," he states, noting that while apolitical norms prevail locally, especially in small towns, candidates' party affiliations remain a key factor. Parties thus have every interest in playing their hand and demonstrating their territorial anchoring to gain leverage.
Asked if the municipal campaign is overshadowed by the tumultuous national news, Lefebvre says preparations within party apparatuses began several months ago, involving list formations or primaries. "If local elites are already campaigning, it hasn't yet reached a wide audience. But a campaign never really starts before January," he clarifies. He expects that once Parliament votes on the budget, political actors will agree to pause the crisis and focus on local stakes.
Lefebvre reminds that alongside the presidential election, municipals are the country's most important votes, carrying significant power stakes. On the national political confusion's impact, he deems it "difficult to say at this stage" whether citizens will be more or less interested in the campaign.