Everything will be decided in the second round. France held the first round of municipal elections

Socialist Emmanuel Gregoire is leading after the first round of municipal elections in Paris. Photo: Telmo Pinto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The main formal difference of this year's municipal elections from the 2020 vote is the comparatively high turnout. Six years ago, at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, fewer than 45% of voters turned out, while this time the figure exceeded 57%.

The vote was held under a proportional system. To qualify for the second round, a party list must receive at least 10% of the votes.

Most attention was focused on Paris. The capital's mayor, socialist Anne Hidalgo, did not run for a third term.

In the first round, socialist Emmanuel Gregoire took first place with a significant lead (38.3%). The right-wing candidate, former Justice Minister Rachida Dati, is in second place with 26% of the votes. Also advancing to the second round are Sofia Shikiru (far-left "France Unbowed," 11.3%), centrist Pierre-Yves Bournazel (11.2%), and Sarah Knafo, who barely crossed the 10% barrier (far-right "Reconquest").

The fate of the elections will be decided in the second round, and candidates are mostly talking about possible coalitions. Gregoire reproached his rival Dati for not saying whether she would unite with the far-right. In turn, "Macronist" Bournazel is ready to support the right only if they do not cooperate with nationalists. Rachida Dati, meanwhile, stated that it is "not the time for division" and called for the unity of "all who do not want left-wing sectarians in power."

In Le Havre, ex-Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who previously announced his participation in the presidential elections, is leading by a significant margin.

According to polls, in 2027 he has the most chances among center-right candidates to advance to the second round of the presidential race.

In the first round, Philippe garnered 43.8% of the votes. Communist Jean-Paul Lecoq received 33.2%, far-right politician Franck Keller — 15.3%.

In Nice, as expected, far-right politician Eric Ciotti is leading with 43.2%, having secured the support of the "National Rally." Centrist Christian Estrosi received 30.3%.

In Nantes, a struggle is unfolding between socialist Johanna Rolland (35.4%) and Fulco Chambard de Lau ("The Republicans," 33.8%). "France Unbowed," with whom the socialists refused to cooperate before the first round, advanced its candidate William Akan to the second round with 11.3%. The far-left has already offered Johanna Rolland to create an "anti-fascist front" and merge their lists in the second round.

In Marseille, a representative of the far-right "National Rally," Franck Alizio, who took second place with 34.3%, made a similar offer to the right. Socialist Benoît Payan is leading after the first round (36.8%).

"Let's unite to defeat the left and the far-left," Alizio stated.

In the first round, the far-left "France Unbowed" performed better than expected. Party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, with whom the socialists refused to cooperate due to his antisemitic statements and aggressive rhetoric, stated that "France Unbowed" hopes for victory in Lille and Toulouse, and is also satisfied with the results in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. He called on "traditional leftists" to join a broad coalition to defeat the right and far-right. "'France Unbowed' is working on forming a united front to defeat the right and far-right. The extended hand must be accepted," Mélenchon declared.

The "National Rally" is also satisfied with the first round. In addition to success in Marseille and Nice, the far-right secured the re-election of mayors representing the party in several cities, including Perpignan. The "National Rally" also managed to win outright in the first round in three cities in the north of the country.

The second round of municipal elections will take place on Sunday, March 22. This is the last major vote before the 2027 presidential elections.

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