Socialists retain Paris mayoralty
Grégoire victory signals urban resistance to far right
Emmanuel Grégoire of the Socialist Party won the Paris mayoralty, defeating conservative Rachida Dati and keeping the capital under left‑wing control after 25 years, exit polls showed. Grégoire thanked supporters and framed the result as a rebuke to the far right, saying the outcome signaled that “Paris is not and will never be a far‑right city.” Polling firm Elabe projected Grégoire at about 50% against Dati, whose campaign had been bolstered when other right‑leaning rivals, including far‑right candidate Sarah Knafo, withdrew in favor of a unified conservative ticket.
The municipal contests were widely viewed as an early barometer ahead of next year’s presidential campaign. Grégoire ran on expanding social housing, accelerating green initiatives and improving urban services, while Dati emphasized security, economic competitiveness and stricter urban management. Analysts said the Paris result strengthens the Socialist Party’s momentum and underscores urban voters’ preference for progressive policies on housing, transport and the environment.
Elsewhere, the far‑right National Rally fell short of taking control of major southern cities, notably failing to capture Marseille and Toulon, according to exit polls. In Marseille, Socialist incumbent Benoît Payan was re-elected after left‑wing forces united to block the National Rally. Party leader Jordan Bardella acknowledged gains nationwide but dismissed the losses as evidence that the party still faces limits in larger cities; he characterized recent successes in other towns as part of a broader swing toward his movement.
Mainstream parties hailed the municipal outcomes as signs of resilience and stressed the importance of unity to counter the far right in the leadup to national elections. Senior figures on the center‑right and center‑left pointed to the results as evidence that coordinated local alliances can blunt National Rally advances, while the RN argued its broader growth shows a lasting shift in voter sentiment. Observers cautioned that municipal victories do not necessarily predict presidential results but said the elections will factor into strategic planning and coalition building ahead of the national campaign.
