In a volatile context, Jordan Bardella of the Rassemblement national and Jean-Luc Mélenchon held successive meetings in Perpignan on February 28 and March 1. The city, led by mayor Louis Aliot (RN), hosted these gatherings ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. Despite school holidays and the threat of rain, the streets had a festive atmosphere.
Perpignan, prefecture of the Pyrénées-Orientales, experienced a politically charged weekend. On the evening of Saturday, February 28, the streets with Catalan accents were lively, with crowded café terraces despite school holidays and the threat of rain. On Boulevard du Maréchal-Leclerc, near the popular Vernet district, and in the narrow streets leading to the Castillet, glasses of white wine or beer circulated freely, providing a festive halftime to this highly political weekend.
In the afternoon, the Rassemblement national (RN) had rented the Parc des expositions for a support meeting for outgoing mayor Louis Aliot, ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. More than a hundred people were waiting from 1 p.m. in front of the gates for an event scheduled at 5 p.m. Among them was Philippe, 55, a hospital employee covered in tattoos, attending his first electoral meeting. Accompanied by Alexandra, 46, he had come from the nearby village of Opoul-Périllos. “We came mainly for Bardella. He seems super,” Philippe said.
The next day, March 1, Jean-Luc Mélenchon held his own meeting in the Catalan city, marking a crossover between far-right and radical left figures. This duel highlights national stakes in this local municipal campaign.
