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What is at stake in France's local elections
Performance of far-right RN party and left-wing Greens and gender parity will be among key factors
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Which person's image must be displayed in French mairies?
The French flag, the motto “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” as well as a bust of Marianne are often seen
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Local election rule changes in France and why you may have a new mayor in 2026
Communes with fewer than 1,000 residents are particularly set to see changes from next year
Pensioners’ life certificates: French version created by mairie
One reader was surprised to find that her mairie insisted on translating her ‘life certificate’ from the UK’s pension authority
We have had a report of a mairie stating it could not this year sign a UK ‘life certificate’ written in English, but it would provide a version in French, instead, which could be attached and sent back, the mairie said.
‘Life certificates’ are sent from time to time by the UK pension authority, to check that pensioners abroad in countries such as France are still alive and therefore eligible for continued pension payments.
Example of French ‘certificat de vie’:
