French municipal elections: key points from the first round

France held the first round of its municipal elections on March 15, with early results showing strong performances by the far-right in smaller towns, fragmented alliances in major cities, and complex negotiations ahead of the run-off vote. You can see a map of the early results of major cities here.

The main points to take away are:

1. Far-right makes gains in smaller towns

The far-right, led by the Rassemblement National (RN) of Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen, has strengthened its local presence.

More than 500 far-right candidate lists won at least 10% of the vote, the threshold needed to stay in the race for the second round. This is roughly double the number in the 2020 municipal elections and higher than the previous record set in 2014.

The RN and allied groups finished first in at least 75 communes, compared with just 11 in the first round six years ago.

However, most of this progress came in towns with fewer than 10,000 residents, where local dynamics often favour political movements that contest the national political direction.

In the northern town of Bruay-la-Buissière (Hauts-de-France), a far-right candidate won with more than 81% of the vote, securing an outright victory. 

Similarly, the RN held onto existing strongholds such as Perpignan, Hénin-Beaumont and Fréjus, where the mayors were also re-elected in the first round.

However, it struggled in several large cities including Paris.

2. Far-left exceeds expectations

The far-left La France Insoumise surprised in several cities, with its candidates finishing in first place in Toulouse, Lyon, Saint‑Denis and Roubaix. 

Party coordinator Manuel Bompard said the movement would be present in “hundreds” of second-round contests, while the traditional left-wing Socialist party struggled overall.

3. Tight races in key cities including Marseille and Nice

Several major cities are now heading into closely contested second rounds.

In Marseille, the incumbent left-wing mayor Benoît Payan narrowly led the first round with 36.7%, just ahead of RN candidate Franck Allisio on 35%, The result means the second-largest city in France could become one of the most closely watched run-offs.

The RN also topped the vote in Toulon and possibly Nîmes, raising the possibility of further major city victories if it can broaden support in the second round. In Nice the leader is a RN ally.

4. Alliances and negotiations dominate the run-up to the second round

With many three- or four-way races expected, negotiations between parties are now crucial.

In Toulouse, the Socialist candidate announced an alliance with the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) list in an attempt to defeat the centre-right mayor.

Elsewhere, negotiations are proving more difficult. In Paris, the Socialist candidate rejected an offer of cooperation from LFI, meaning multiple left-wing lists could compete in the second round.

5. Deadline approaching for second-round lists

Parties must decide whether to merge lists, withdraw or remain in the race before Tuesday at 18:00, the deadline to register candidates for the second round.

Those decisions will shape the final contests on March 22, when voters return to the polls to elect mayors and municipal councils across France.

6. Centrists struggle - Le Havre an exception

Despite a clear victory for former prime minister Edouard Philippe in Le Havre, centrist parties struggled overall. 

In Paris, the Horizons-Renaissance candidate failed to secure a clear lead, finishing behind the Socialist list in several arrondissements and leaving the party reliant on alliances to remain competitive in the second round.

Elsewhere, centrist lists lagged behind both the right and the resurgent LFI, again revealing the decline of President Macron’s centrist political base - and potentially forcing them to negotiate alliances ahead of the second round on March 22.

7. Rachida Dati faces uphill battle in Paris

In the capital, right-wing candidate Rachida Dati finished well behind the left after the first round. 

The Socialist-led list headed by Emmanuel Grégoire won around 38% of the vote, more than 10 points ahead of Ms Dati on about 25.5%.

Five lists qualified for the second round, including candidates from LFI, the centrist Horizons-Renaissance camp and the far-right Reconquête movement. 

Ms Dati has called for a broad right and centre alliance in an attempt to close the gap, but the fragmented field could make for complex negotiations to unite their votes.