Results are in for major races across France.

 

News

French election: Socialists take Paris, far right wins in Riviera — live updates

Results are in for major races across France.

 

March 22, 2026 3:00 pm CET

By POLITICO

https://www.politico.eu/article/french-municipal-elections-2026-results-live-updates/

 

PARIS — Polls have closed in France’s runoff elections to choose mayors and new city councils in highly competitive races, many of which will hold clues to how next year’s presidential election might unfold.

 

The headlines so far include Socialist Party candidate Emmanuel Gr´´egoire’s projected victory in Paris and Edouard Philippe winning reelection as mayor of Le Havre, which keeps his presidential dreams alive. The center-left incumbent mayor of France’s second biggest city, Marseille, handily beat a candidate from the National Rally.

 

The far-right party, which is tipped to win the 2027 race for the Elysée, failed to take control of two of its targets in southern France: Toulon and Nîmes. But an ally of the far-right party is on track for a precedent-shattering win in Nice, and Marine Le Pen said the party is on track to win control of several dozen cities.

 

If you’re looking for an in-depth guide, here’s how you can watch like a pro.

 

Read on for the latest.

 

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March 22, 20269:47 pm

Océane Herrero

An emotional Dati admits defeat in Paris

 

Conservative candidate for Paris mayor Rachida Dati conceded defeat in a short, emotional speech Sunday.

 

Dati acknowledged in her address that she “did not succeed in convincing” Parisians that “change was possible,” and denounced what she described as “baseless, below-the-belt attacks” from political adversaries.

 

Dati has long dreamed of leading the city of lights, so the loss will sting. She ran unsuccessfully for Paris mayor six years ago in the last municipal elections.

 

Dati left her headquarters immediately after her speech. Outside she was greeted a mix of applause from supporters and boos from opponents who brought up her judicial history. An anti-corruption probe into her alleged failure to declare a €420,000 jewelry collection is underway and she will face trial on charges of illicit lobbying as an MEP. Dati denies any wrongdoing in both cases

 

March 22, 20269:42 pm

Aude Le Gentil

 Centrist Renaissance party claims victory in Annecy, one of its few major cities

 

Renaissance Deputy and former Minister of the Economy Antoine Armand claimed victory in Annecy.

 

“I am deeply moved to learn that the team I am leading — this broad coalition of the center and the right, working to heal and rebuild Annecy — has emerged as the clear winner,” said Armand at a local radio station.

 

His victory was first announced by party leader Gabriel Attal. Indeed, the stakes were high, as Annecy was one of the few major cities that President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party was able to win. This is the first time that Renaissance, which has little local presence, will govern a city with more than 100,000 residents.

 

As POLITICO reported from the field, Armand tried to downplay his partisan affiliation and his image as a former minister during the campaign.

 

March 22, 20269:39 pm

Giorgio Leali

Grégoire: Paris stayed Paris

 

“Today Paris has decided to stay faithful to its history,” a triumphant Emmanuel Grégoire told his supporters during a very short speech after projections showed him winning the Paris mayor’s race.

 

“Thanks to this large mobilization, the union of the right won’t rule Paris,” he added.

 

March 22, 20269:37 pm

Laura Kayali

Bardella says National Rally ‘achieved the greatest breakthrough in its entire history’

 

National Rally President Jordan Bardella used his speech after today’s runoff election to take a victory lap and claim a historic victory in local elections.

 

“Tonight is also, and above all, a night of victory and hope; the National Rally and its candidates have achieved the greatest breakthrough in its entire history. Following the second round, we are able to count dozens of new victories,” Bardella in an evening address. “This marks the end of an old world that has run out of steam.”

 

Bardella went on to frame his far-right party as the “sole bulwark” against an increasingly popular hard-left France Unbowed.

 

“I say this with gravity: The country is at a crossroads. The elections have revealed Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s relentless grip on the French left,” he added. “In Marseille, as everywhere else, the [National Rally] has become the leading opposition force.”

 

But his harshest words were for the conservative party Les Républicains, who refused to team up with the National Rally in most of these local contests, effectively giving key cities to the left.

 

“Tonight’s successes are not an end in themselves but a beginning, the start of a patient and determined revival,” Bardella concluded, saying his party would lean toward “national union.” In an unexpected nod at former Socialist President François Mitterrand, he described the National Rally as a “quiet force.”

 

March 22, 20269:33 pm

Aude Le Gentil

‘We did it,’ says far-right ally Ciotti after winning Nice

 

“It seemed like climbing the north face of the Himalayas — and yes, we did it,” said far-right National Rally ally Eric Ciotti after winning in Nice, France’s fifth-most populous city.

 

“Yes, this campaign was tough; we didn’t get off easy,” noted Ciotti, referring to his tense standoff with the city’s right-wing former Mayor Christian Estrosi.

 

Ciotti then limited himself to thanking his voters and supporters in a conciliatory speech. Without targeting his opponents or mentioning his allies from the National Rally, he said he now wants to “look forward.”

 

March 22, 20269:21 pm

Victor Goury-Laffont

Socialist candidate says he beat former Prime Minister François Bayrou in Pau

 

Former Prime Minister Prime Minister François Bayrou may lose control of his longtime Pyrenees stronghold of Pau less than six months after being ousted as premier.

 

The 74-year-old centrist’s rival Jérôme Marbot claimed victory his win as votes were still being counted, local media reported. Bayrou has not spoken publicly.

 

Bayrou finished ahead of Marbot in the first round with 33.8 percent against 26.3 for Marbot.

 

A loss in his hometown likely puts the nail in the coffin of his presidential dreams.

 

March 22, 20269:17 pm

Océane Herrero

Rachida Dati’s supporters shocked by disappointing results

 

“A 10-point margin.” It was a greater gulf than they expected.

 

Around Rachida Dati’s headquarters, several supporters of the conservative candidate did not conceal their disappointment as the first projections were released, giving the victory to the Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire, with around 50 percent of the vote. Dati was on track for less than 40 percent.

 

“We did not expect to win, but 10 points is a lot”, said Raony Fontaine, who voted for Dati and came to support her. He believed that people who voted for the far-right candidate Sarah Knafo and the centrist candidate Pierre-Yves Bournazel, who both quit the race before the second round, did not mobilize as much as expected for Dati.

 

I was also a bit disappointed by Rachida Dati’s performance during the televised debate,” said Jean-François, another supporter, who believed the judicial procedures still looming over Dati’s head played against her.