Voting is underway in France for the second round of local elections, determining mayors for Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and over 1,500 other cities and towns. The results are closely watched as a bellwether for the presidential race next year.
Most communes elected councils last Sunday, but these runoffs are decisive in tighter contests, particularly in urban areas. Electoral alliances are expected to be vital, with leftist and centrist parties often joining forces to counter gains by the far right.
These elections allow parties to gauge their strength one year before the end of Emmanuel Macron’s term. The outcomes will test the resilience of mainstream parties and the potential for gains by both the radical left and the far right.
Municipal councils and mayors will be elected for the next six years.