Arabic version: الاشتراكيون يحتفظون بالمدن الكبرى في الانتخابات المحلية الفرنسية
France’s Socialists and their allies held on to power in the country’s major cities during recent local elections, signaling a potential boost for mainstream parties ahead of the upcoming presidential elections. According to BBC News, the Socialists held onto power in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Lille, while far-left and far-right factions made notable gains in other regions.
The outcome highlighted the challenges faced by alliances between mainstream left parties and the far-left France Unbowed (LFI), as voters in traditional Socialist strongholds like Clermont-Ferrand and Brest leaned towards center and right candidates. In contrast, cities such as Paris and Marseille saw incumbent Socialists re-elected after distancing themselves from the far-left due to accusations of sectarian anti-Semitism.
Lyon’s ecologist mayor, Gregory Doucet, managed to ally himself with LFI and still secure victory, but this was viewed as an exception. Pierre Jouvet, the PS secretary-general, remarked on the LFI’s failure to gain traction, suggesting that it may even hinder electoral success for the left.
The LFI did achieve victories in some areas, including Roubaix, and claimed a first-round win in Saint-Denis, but overall, the elections favored mainstream parties. The pro-Macron Renaissance party celebrated a significant win in Bordeaux, while Edouard Philippe, a former prime minister, triumphed in Le Havre, positioning himself as a potential centrist candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
Overall, the elections underscored the enduring strength of mainstream parties against the backdrop of rising far-left and far-right influences, raising questions about the political landscape as France approaches its next presidential contest.