Original Source
French Local Elections: Runoff Vote for Mayors and Local Councillors
Fierce Competition for Mayoral Seats in Major Cities
The mayoral positions in France's largest cities, Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, are seeing fierce competition. All these cities are currently held by left-wing mayors, and new mayors are expected to be elected in this runoff vote. FRANCE 24 journalist Antonia Kerrigan noted that all three major cities are "up for grabs today."
In Paris, with the current incumbent not seeking re-election, Emmanuel Grégoire (Socialist), Rachida Dati (right-wing), and Soufiane Chekour (France Unbowed) are vying for succession. In Lyon, the incumbent Green Party candidate faces a right-wing challenger, while in Marseille, the incumbent left-wing mayor faces challengers from both the right and far-right.
Low Turnout and Campaign Efforts
Last week's first-round turnout was relatively low at 58%, the lowest ever in municipal elections outside of the COVID years. This prompted a significant push during the last week of campaigning to drive up voter participation. While it's still early in the voting process, candidates hope to improve their margins by mobilizing their support base.
*Source: France24, YouTube: France 24 English (2026-03-22)*
