2026 Municipal Elections Intensify in Metz, Nice, and Perpignan with Divisions and Controversies

As France approaches the 2026 municipal elections, key cities such as Metz, Nice, and Perpignan are witnessing heightened political tensions and strategic maneuvers by incumbents and challengers alike.

In Metz, incumbent mayor François Grosdidier, aged 64 and member of Les Républicains, officially declared his candidacy on February 6, 2023. He is capitalizing on pronounced divisions within the left-wing parties, which remain fragmented despite multiple attempts at unity. In the 2020 elections, the left coalition narrowly lost by just 197 votes. This election cycle, La France insoumise (LFI) is running independently with Charlotte Leduc as their candidate. Grosdidier’s chief opponent, municipal councilor Jérémy Roques, has backing from several leftist factions including the Communist Party and the Parti animaliste but lacks Socialist Party endorsement. The Socialists have supported former Thionville mayor Bertrand Mertz, also backed by Dominique Gros and Place publique, whose candidate nearly toppled Grosdidier in 2020.

Meanwhile, in Nice, Mayor Christian Estrosi has forcefully denied rumors about his health, specifically claims of Parkinson’s disease, presenting a medical certificate as proof. Estrosi criticized political adversaries, particularly rival Eric Ciotti, accusing them of "ignoble" smear campaigns. The rivalry has intensified amid allegations of favoritism and corruption tied to a 2020 surgical mask order during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both Estrosi and Ciotti face ongoing investigations, adding to the electoral friction.

In Perpignan, RN mayor Louis Aliot is struggling to defend his tenure amid scrutiny, facing a threat of ineligibility linked to potential new convictions over European assistants related to the National Rally party. This looming legal challenge has left his political standing vulnerable as elections near.

These developments highlight a contentious political climate in key French cities ahead of the municipal elections, shaped by party divisions, personal attacks, and legal investigations.