Why France's local elections are important ahead of the presidential race

"The municipal elections are seen as a crucial test ahead of the 2027 presidential vote. The two-round ballot will assess the strength of the far-right National Rally (RN) and indicate potential alliances in France's fragmented political landscape."

"The RN aims to consolidate its existing towns and expand into larger urban areas, fielding significantly more candidates than in previous cycles to build momentum for the 2027 presidential vote."

"The elections involve nearly 35,000 separate contests, making predictions difficult due to local issues, the complex two-round system, and the potential for mergers between lists."

France is conducting municipal elections across two rounds on March 15 and 22, functioning as a significant barometer for the 2027 presidential race. The far-right National Rally seeks to strengthen control of existing municipalities while penetrating major urban centers, deploying substantially more candidates than in previous elections to build momentum. Major cities including Marseille, Paris, and Toulon represent key contested areas. Multiple political factions—Socialists, Greens, France Unbowed, and Republicans—compete for municipal control. The electoral process encompasses nearly 35,000 individual contests, complicating forecasting due to localized issues, the intricate two-round voting mechanism, and potential list mergers between political parties.

Read at www.independent.co.uk