The first round of France's 2026 municipal elections, held on March 15, resulted in significant gains for the far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National) party in the southeastern Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. The party secured first-place positions in multiple towns, positioning itself strongly ahead of the decisive second round of voting.
In the city of Perpignan, Mayor Louis Aliot (RN) was re-elected in the first round with over 50% of the vote, a major victory for the party. The RN also led after the first round in Fréjus, where candidate David Rachline is well-placed to win, and made strong showings in other coastal communities.
This performance consolidates the party's influence in a region where it has established a strong electoral base over recent years. The results are seen as a test of national political currents ahead of future national elections.
The second round of the municipal elections is scheduled for March 22, 2026, where final mayoral positions will be decided in run-off contests between the leading candidates from the first round.
