Socialist Grégoire Elected Paris Mayor as Left Retains Control of Major French Cities
Left-wing candidates have secured victory in the municipal elections across France’s three largest cities, signaling a setback for national conservative parties. While most French municipalities elected their mayors in the first round last weekend, approximately 1,500 cities, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, proceeded to a second round of voting on Sunday, March 22, 2026.
Paris Elects First Socialist Mayor in a Quarter Century
In Paris, Emmanuel Grégoire, the Socialist candidate, won with 50.52% of the vote, defeating Rachida Dati, the Republican Party nominee, who received 41.52% in the second round. This victory extends the Socialist Party’s 25-year hold on the French capital, following the two-term tenure of Anne Hidalgo, who chose not to seek re-election. The election saw a 61.60% turnout in the second round, a significant increase from the 58.89% in the first round.
Marseille and Lyon Also Remain Under Left-Wing Control
The trend continued in Marseille, where Benoît Pajans, running as a non-party representative of the left, secured 54.34% of the vote, defeating Frank Alisjo of the National Union. Similarly, in Lyon, Green candidate Gégorie Doucet won with 50.67% of the vote, overcoming Jean-Michel Aula, a non-party candidate representing the right.
Key Takeaways from the 2026 Municipal Elections
- The left maintains control of France’s three largest cities: Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
- Emmanuel Grégoire is the new mayor of Paris, continuing the Socialist Party’s long-standing leadership.
- National conservative parties failed to win a majority in any of the largest cities.
- Turnout increased in the second round of voting, indicating heightened civic engagement.
The results of these municipal elections are being closely watched as a potential indicator of the political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential race. These local elections provide a crucial measure of whether the far-right can translate national momentum into control of major cities.