PARIS

France’s second round of local elections saw left-wing victories in the country’s biggest cities as polls closed.

According to exit polls, voter turnout reached 57% in the second round, compared to 41.86% in the same round of the 2020 local elections.

In the country’s three largest cities, Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, candidates backed by the left emerged victorious, while in many municipalities, voters re-elected incumbent mayors.

Edouard Philippe, who served as prime minister under President Emmanuel Macron from 2017 to 2020 and is the current mayor of Le Havre, was re-elected with 47.71% of the vote.

Philippe, leader of the Horizons party, had hoped to run in the 2027 presidential election contingent on a strong local election performance.

Socialists to continue governing Paris

Emmanuel Gregoire, deputy to Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo who has led Paris since 2014, won around 50% of the vote and was elected mayor of Paris.

The Socialists will continue governing the capital until the next local elections.

Macron’s center-right former culture minister Rachida Dati finished second with around 40% of the vote, while Sophia Chikirou of the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party came third with about 10%.

Incumbent mayor re-elected in Marseille

In Marseille, the country’s second-largest city, incumbent left-wing Mayor Benoit Payan was re-elected with 54.60% of the vote. His far-right rival Franck Allisio finished second with 39.10%.

In Lyon, where two mayoral candidates received nearly equal support in the first round, the runoff was closely watched. Incumbent Green Mayor Gregory Doucet, backed by left-wing parties, won 54% of the vote, defeating center-right opponent Jean-Michel Aulas.

Left wins in Lille and Roubaix

In the northern city of Lille, incumbent Socialist Mayor Arnaud Deslandes won with 50% of the vote, while in neighboring Roubaix, LFI lawmaker David Guiraud secured victory with 55.61%.

Far-right-backed candidate wins in Nice

In Nice, center-right candidate Eric Ciotti, also backed by the far right, won the election with 45% of the vote.

Incumbent Mayor Christian Estrosi, in office since 2017, finished second with 39.50%.

Far right defeated in Toulon and Nimes

In Toulon, incumbent center-right Mayor Josee Massi won with 53.50%, defeating far-right candidate Laure Lavalette.

In Nimes, Communist candidate Vincent Bouget won with 40.50% of the vote, defeating far-right rival Julien Sanchez.

Reactions from politicians

Emmanuel Gregoire, speaking at a press conference in Paris, said that thanks to voter mobilization, the right would not govern the capital, adding: “Paris is not, and will not become, a far-right city.”

He also stated that they reject racism and antisemitism, saying: “Paris belongs to you; Paris is you.”

LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard highlighted low voter turnout, warning that the country is going through a serious democratic crisis. He added that his party made significant gains and said of Macron and his supporters: “Macronism is on the verge of disappearing.”

Bruno Retailleau, leader of the center-right Republicans (LR), claimed that his party is the country’s largest political force.

Marine Le Pen, deputy leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), said on the US social media company X that her party had won dozens of cities in the second round.

Socialist Party (PS) leader Olivier Faure said they were leading in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.

Gabriel Attal, secretary general of Renaissance, said that 200 candidates from his party were elected as mayors.

In France, municipal council candidates run on lists presented by different parties and alliances. In the second round of local elections, the list with the highest vote share wins half of the seats on the municipal council, while the remaining seats are distributed proportionally among all lists that receive more than 5% of the vote.

*Writing by Berk Kutay Gokmen in Istanbul