Socialists and allies held on to power in France's big four cities - Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Lille - on a local election night that offers hopes for mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential elections.
The new aspirants of the far-left and far-right also made gains – notable wins were seen with an ally of Marine Le Pen in Nice and France Unbowed (LFI) candidate in Roubaix.
However, the failure of alliances between mainstream left parties and LFI led to voter shifts toward the center and right in longtime Socialist strongholds, including Clermont-Ferrand and Brest.
In contrast, cities such as Paris, Marseille, and Lille, where incumbent Socialists avoided far-left associations due to accusations of anti-Semitism, saw left-wing administrations secure comfortable victories.
Lyon's ecologist mayor, Gregory Doucet, who allied with LFI, won against a weak right-wing challenger. Meanwhile, the LFI's secretary-general expressed that the far-left's presence only brought about defeat in many areas.
Nonetheless, there were local victories for LFI, including a first-round victory in Saint-Denis and a win in Roubaix, signaling that they remain influential among certain voter bases.
Overall, mainstream parties demonstrated resilience, winning significant positions across various regions, while concerns about potential far-right or far-left candidates emerging in future presidential elections loom large over the political landscape.
