In the second round of France's 2026 municipal elections, the left held Paris, Lyon, and Marseille but lost historical strongholds like Brest and Clermont-Ferrand due to alliances with La France insoumise (LFI). PS secretary general Pierre Jouvet stated: «La France insoumise fait perdre». The left won in major cities without such alliances.
The second round of municipal elections on March 22, 2026, highlighted the fallout from left-wing alliances with La France insoumise (LFI). Le Figaro reports the left retained major cities like Paris, where Emmanuel Grégoire won with an estimated 50.7% against Rachida Dati (40.7%) and Sophia Chikirou (8.6%), Lyon, and Marseille. It failed in Toulouse, where Jean-Luc Moudenc (divers droite) was reelected with 53% against François Piquemal (LFI, backed by socialists). Historical strongholds flipped: Clermont-Ferrand, socialist-led since 1919, went right; Brest, Poitiers, and Besançon too. Limoges was not won, Avignon neither, and Tulle was lost by the incumbent socialist mayor. PS secretary general Pierre Jouvet concluded: «La France insoumise fait perdre». In most of the 26 cities with left-LFI alliances, the right prevailed, contrasting with wins without them, like Paris. Editorials such as Alexis Brézet's call these pacts «dishonor and defeat», citing a repellent effect on voters. Guillaume Tabard notes this failure will impact the left's 2027 presidential strategy. Turnout reached 57%.
