Sébastien Delogu Officially Declares Candidacy for Marseille Mayoral Race with LFI

Sébastien Delogu, the deputy for Bouches-du-Rhône and La France insoumise (LFI) candidate, has officially announced his bid for the Marseille mayoral elections set for March 2026. He aims to challenge incumbent mayor Benoît Payan and confront the rise of the far-right Rassemblement national.

Delogu criticized the current left-wing coalition, “Printemps marseillais,” accusing it of co-managing Marseille with the right and failing to uproot entrenched clientelism and favoritism. Emphasizing a return of power to the people, his campaign platform focuses on pressing issues such as housing, healthcare, and ecological challenges faced by the city.

While maintaining an independent campaign, Delogu remains open to a potential alliance with leftist parties in the election's second round. This approach echoes LFI’s strategies in other cities like Lyon and Paris where they run solo campaigns initially.

Delogu benefits from strong support in Marseille’s popular neighborhoods, backed by LFI’s recent electoral successes—highlighted by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's 31.12% vote share in the 2022 presidential first round and Manon Aubry’s 21.54% in the 2024 European elections. Both Delogu and fellow LFI deputy Manuel Bompard were first-round victors in legislative elections, underscoring the party's growing influence in the city.

Meanwhile, the right and center coalesce behind Martine Vassal, and the far-right candidate is Franck Allisio, supported by senator Stéphane Ravier. Delogu is confident that Marseille’s voters will reject the far-right option.

This announcement sets the stage for a multifaceted contest in Marseille, where Delogu’s platform challenges both established left coalitions and the far-right threat, seeking to revitalize the city’s governance through grassroots empowerment and social justice.