Voting is underway in France for the second round of local elections, determining mayors for over 1,500 communes including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. The results are closely watched as a bellwether for the presidential race next year.
Most communes elected councils last Sunday, but runoffs are decisive in tighter contests, particularly in urban areas. Electoral alliances are expected to be vital, with the left and centrist parties frequently 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, with tight races anticipated in major cities. The left is fighting to maintain key strongholds while the far right seeks to expand its influence.