National Rally
French left keeps Paris, Marseille and Lyon as far right expands mayoral foothold
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France’s left-wing coalitions held the mayoralties of Paris, Marseille and Lyon in the 2026 municipal elections, while Marine Le Pen’s National Rally said it increased its number of mayors to about 70 nationwide. The results also exposed continuing strains inside the left as conservatives and the far right notched gains in smaller and midsize cities.
Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National, stated that if he wins the 2027 presidential election, he would remove the European Union flag from the front steps of the Élysée Palace and Matignon, leaving only the French tricolor. He justified the move by the palace's symbolic role as the «house of the French people». The announcement comes as the RN remains known for its euroscepticism.
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Daisy Duveau, the new RN mayor of Grenay in Pas-de-Calais, has removed a commemorative plaque honoring Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, a Lebanese militant convicted of terrorism and released last summer. This decision, one of her first acts, aims to restore the town's dignity, according to the mayor. RN deputy Bruno Bilde praised the move.
RN mayor of Fréjus, David Rachline, was acquitted on January 27 by the Draguignan court in a case of illegal interest taking. Upon leaving the courtroom, he announced his candidacy for the March municipal elections, stating that this ruling confirms his integrity. He still faces a September trial for favoritism.
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Antoine Valentin, the Union des droites pour la République (UDR) candidate backed by Éric Ciotti, led the first round of a partial legislative election in Haute-Savoie on Sunday with about 45% of the votes. Supported by the Rassemblement national (RN), he outpaced Les Républicains (LR) candidate Christophe Fournier, who received 15%. This vote, weeks before municipal elections, tests right-wing strategies regarding an alliance with the RN.
Valérie Pécresse, the Republicans' 2022 presidential candidate, firmly opposes any union with the National Rally in an op-ed published on December 14. She urges her party not to sell out and to refocus on its values to revive France. This stance comes as some within the Republicans consider such an alliance.
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In the historically Gaullist Cantal, a stronghold of Georges Pompidou, a young Rassemblement national (RN) candidate launches the party's first municipal list for the 2026 elections in Saint-Georges. At 22 years old, Cindy Rodier aims to carry the voice of the forgotten in this rural commune of 1200 inhabitants. Recent election results reveal a significant reservoir of nationalist votes in the area.
Carcassonne mayor removes EU flag from town hall
Jumatatu, 23. Mwezi wa tatu 2026, 08:58:25Benoît Payan re-elected Marseille mayor despite RN breakthrough
Jumapili, 22. Mwezi wa tatu 2026, 13:08:20National Rally wins 36 town halls in 2026 municipal runoff
Ijumaa, 13. Mwezi wa tatu 2026, 06:43:32Former LR mayor of Perpignan rallies to RN's Louis Aliot
Jumatano, 4. Mwezi wa tatu 2026, 23:27:51Marine Le Pen slams Mélenchon's Jewish name mockery as worse than her father's remarks
Ijumaa, 23. Mwezi wa kwanza 2026, 01:03:11Louis Aliot struggles to justify assistant hiring in RN appeal trial
Alhamisi, 22. Mwezi wa kwanza 2026, 12:24:42Jordan Bardella targets dozens of communes for RN in 2026 municipal elections
Jumapili, 11. Mwezi wa kwanza 2026, 19:04:03Marine Le Pen's image erodes as RN voters prefer Jordan Bardella
Jumapili, 28. Mwezi wa kumi na mbili 2025, 20:31:16Louis Sarkozy runs a flamboyant campaign in Menton
Jumapili, 21. Mwezi wa kumi na mbili 2025, 03:03:05Laurent Jacobelli guest on Questions politiques on France Inter