Campaign Controversies and New Candidacies Shape 2026 French Elections

The 2026 French elections are taking shape with notable campaign developments and emerging controversies involving key candidates. On February 5, Jérôme Guedj, a socialist elected official from Essonne, announced his independent candidacy for the presidential election during an interview on France Inter. Guedj emphasized his goal to "seduce beyond the left," distancing himself from the traditional Socialist Party route by refusing to participate in the primary scheduled for October 11. This move positions him as a candidate seeking broader appeal beyond established party lines.

Meanwhile, Jean-Michel Aulas, a high-profile candidate for mayor of Lyon, is embroiled in controversy. The Lyon press club accused Aulas of media filtering during his mayoral campaign, specifically citing exclusion of major media outlets such as Le Monde and Libération from a campaign event in the La Duchère neighborhood. The club condemned this selective journalistic access as a "problematic practice" that challenges press freedom in an election context. Aulas' team dismissed the accusations as baseless, explaining that the event’s format did not necessitate the presence of all media, noting that 81 journalists from 45 outlets had been accredited for his initial campaign meeting and that a diverse set of media, including AFP, had been present for the La Duchère visit. Running without party affiliation but endorsed by right and center groups, Aulas is currently a frontrunner against incumbent ecologist mayor Grégory Doucet.

These developments highlight tensions in campaign transparency and evolving political strategies ahead of the elections. Guedj’s independent bid reflects a strategic challenge to traditional leftist candidacies, while Aulas’ media relations issue raises questions about democratic access and fairness in local election campaigning. Both situations underscore the dynamic and contentious atmosphere surrounding the 2026 elections in France.