PLM Law Adopted: Political Landscape Shifts Ahead of 2026 Elections
The PLM law reform has been adopted in France, transforming the electoral system in major cities ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
Key Points
- • The PLM law introduces a double voting system in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille.
- • The reform disconnects municipal councils from their respective districts, impacting local governance.
- • Political parties are divided, with some supporting and others opposing the reform.
- • The law's implementation awaits approval from the Constitutional Council.
On July 10, 2023, the French National Assembly definitively adopted the PLM law reform, introducing a double voting system for municipal elections in the key cities of Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. This law separates municipal councils from district councils, which is poised to reshape the political dynamics as France gears up for the municipal elections scheduled for March 2026.
Supporters, including parties such as Renaissance, MoDem, the National Rally (RN), and La France Insoumise (LFI), view the reform as a progressive step forward. Conversely, leftist factions, including the Socialist Party (PS), the French Communist Party (PCF), the Ecologists, and The Republicans (LR), vehemently oppose this change, describing it as a “scandalous” distortion of local governance. Their primary concern is that disconnecting councils may dilute local representation and accountability.
The law’s implementation now hinges on the approval of the Constitutional Council, which will determine if the reform complies with existing constitutional frameworks. Should the Council uphold it, the modifications will significantly alter political strategies and tactics leading into the upcoming elections, as parties recalibrate to engage with the new electoral landscape in these major cities. As noted, the political stakes are high and the electoral implications remain a hot topic of debate among stakeholders in French politics.