Following the final round of the March 2026 municipal elections, the far-right National Rally (RN) and its leaders, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, have claimed "strong momentum" for the 2027 presidential race despite failing to capture several high-profile urban targets.

 

French far right claims momentum for presidency after local elections

Following the final round of the March 2026 municipal elections, the far-right National Rally (RN) and its leaders, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, have claimed "strong momentum" for the 2027 presidential race despite failing to capture several high-profile urban targets.

 

Key Election Outcomes

Major Wins: The far right's most significant victory occurred in Nice, France's fifth-largest city, where ally Eric Ciotti of the UDR party secured the mayorship. The RN also maintained control of its southern stronghold, Perpignan.

Strategic Defeats: The party fell short in its major objective of taking Marseille, where incumbent Benoît Payan was re-elected with 54% of the vote. It also failed to win Toulon and Nîmes.

Mainstream Resilience: The Socialist Party successfully held Paris, with Emmanuel Grégoire winning 50.5% of the vote. Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe secured re-election in Le Havre, bolstering his own potential 2027 presidential ambitions.

 

Momentum Claims vs. Reality

Aspect         Far-Right Performance Impact on 2027 Outlook

Geographic Reach         Gained in 24 municipalities (up from 17 in 2020), but remains weak in large cosmopolitan hubs.            Demonstrates a "normalization" and steady growth in provincial France.

Coalition Building           Successfully allied with some right-wing factions (e.g., in Nice). Seeks to break the "Republican Front" (tactical voting to block the far right) before the presidency.