Saint-Étienne Mayoral Race Heads to Runoff: Labich Announces New Political Movement
Saint-Étienne’s mayoral election is heading to a second round, with Dino Cinieri, Siham Labich, and Régis Juanico emerging as key contenders. Despite not qualifying for the runoff, Siham Labich, leading the “Cœur Stéphanois” list, has announced the formation of a new, locally-focused political movement.
First Round Results and Runoff Dynamics
The first round of elections, held on March 15, 2026, saw Régis Juanico’s list garnering 29.16% of the vote, setting the stage for a competitive runoff. Dino Cinieri’s “Ensemble pour Saint-Étienne” received 16.30%, while Siham Labich’s “Cœur Stéphanois” secured 9.36% of the vote. Eric Le Jaouen’s “Relevons Saint-Étienne” received 4.93% and was eliminated. Corentin Jousserand of the Rassemblement National received 18.97%.
For Cinieri to potentially win, he will need to attract votes from the eliminated right-wing candidates, including Labich and Le Jaouen. The possibility of votes shifting from the RN, which had a similar first-round score in 2008 and 2014, also remains a factor, though its impact in 2026 is uncertain.
Labich’s Next Steps: A New Political Movement
Despite falling short of qualifying for the runoff, Siham Labich expressed pride in her team’s performance, particularly given their limited resources and late campaign start. She stated that the votes cast for her list “belong to no one” and announced her intention to launch a new political movement focused on Saint-Étienne.
This new movement will be independent of national political parties, aiming to develop fresh projects and ambitions for the territory and prepare for future democratic events, such as the anticipated legislative elections following the 2027 presidential election.
Candidates in the Saint-Étienne Mayoral Election
- Corentin Jousserand: Rassemblement National
- Dino Cinieri: Union of the right, center, and moderate left
- Marc Chassaubéné: From the current majority
- Siham Labich: Without a label, from the current majority
- Eric Le Jaouen: Divers droite
- Régis Juanico: Socialist Party, ecologists, and the Communist Party
- Valentine Mercier: La France Insoumise
- Romain Brossard: Lutte Ouvrière
The second round of the Saint-Étienne mayoral election, scheduled for March 22, will determine the city’s next leader.