Martine Vassal Sparks Controversy with Ambiguous Stance on RN Alliance in Marseille Elections

Martine Vassal, the right-wing candidate for the 2025 Marseille municipal elections and president of the Bouches-du-Rhône departmental council, has ignited political controversy by not ruling out a possible alliance with the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) for the second round. During an interview on Sud Radio on December 1, 2025, when asked about a potential agreement with RN, Vassal responded ambiguously, stating, “We’ll see at that moment.”

This remark caused immediate backlash among her supporters within the Renaissance party and her macronist allies, who criticized her for fracturing political alliances by suggesting any cooperation with RN. Meanwhile, Franck Allisio, RN’s candidate in Marseille, welcomed Vassal’s comments, noting the traditional right’s failure to counter the RN effectively has left them vulnerable. Vassal, however, also criticized Allisio’s candidacy and reiterated her focus on combating the left-wing alliances formed ahead of the first round, particularly the coalition including La France Insoumise led by incumbent mayor Benoît Payan.

Payan himself condemned Vassal’s openness to an RN alliance, expressing shame over this political maneuver and branding it a sign of desperation for electoral survival. Vassal’s team quickly denied any formal intention of forging an alliance with the RN, emphasizing a longstanding opposition to political extremism despite some shared concerns on issues such as security and immigration. She maintained significant disagreements with RN on economic policies and framed the political landscape in Marseille as polarized between the extremes of left and right, positioning herself as a centrist alternative.

The controversy rapidly overshadowed other local events, including the inauguration of the new prefect of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, Jacques Witkowski, as political discussions centered on Vassal's contentious remarks. Her ambiguous stance has not only strained alliances but also intensified debates around strategic partnerships and ideological boundaries in one of France’s most politically complex urban centers.