2026 French Municipal Elections Set for March with New Voting Rules and Key Candidate Shifts in Marseille

The 2026 French municipal elections are scheduled for March 15 and 22, marking the end of a six-year hiatus influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic. These elections will introduce significant reforms, including a new unified voting system for municipalities with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, aimed at enhancing parity and social cohesion within municipal councils. This reform, enacted by the law of May 21, 2025, aligns smaller communes with the voting methods of larger towns. Voters will participate in a two-round voting process, with specific arrangements in major cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille where local councilors and central municipal councils will be elected via separate ballots.

Candidates must be French nationals or European Union citizens, at least 18 years old, and registered voters, with the official registration deadline set for February 26, 2026. The electoral campaign officially begins on March 2. The number of municipal councilors elected varies according to population size, ranging from seven in the smallest communes to up to 69 in larger ones. Provisions are in place for voters unable to attend elections to assign proxy votes.

In Marseille, a notable shift has occurred with Saïd Ouichou, a respected general practitioner from the northern districts of the city, publicly endorsing the joint candidacy of Erwan Davoux and Nora Preziosi. Ouichou cited his dissatisfaction with Martine Vassal's ambiguous stance towards the far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) as a key reason for his switch. Ouichou expressed, "I made the decision to join them, it was not an easy decision. But I could not join someone who has backtracked and left the door open to the extreme right. I remain aligned with my values." This follows controversial remarks by Vassal in early December on Sud Radio suggesting a potential alliance with RN if her campaign faltered, sparking backlash despite subsequent denials from Vassal and her team.

As the municipal elections approach, these developments highlight how electoral reforms and dynamic political alliances are shaping the landscape in key French cities, particularly Marseille, where the far-right's influence continues to provoke debate. The upcoming elections therefore represent a critical moment for French municipal governance and local political balances.