With the 2026 municipal elections in Paris approaching, the political landscape is shifting significantly, particularly as current Mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced she will not seek a third term.
On March 20, 2025, Gabriel Attal, secretary general of the Renaissance party, conveyed the party's intention to play a significant role in the forthcoming elections. “We have every intention to weigh in, to count, and to make our voice heard,” Attal asserted during a press briefing. However, he made it clear that Renaissance will not impose candidates solely under the presidential banner. “We won’t have misplaced egos,” he explained, emphasizing that strategies will vary by city. In some locations, the party will run its own candidates, while in others, it may endorse a sitting mayor or another collective.
The question of a potential alliance with Rachida Dati, the current Minister of Culture and a candidate from the right, remains unresolved. Sylvain Maillard, head of Renaissance in Paris, stated recently that Dati is “the best placed by far to lead a campaign.” Nonetheless, Attal’s own potential candidacy for Paris is still uncertain. “We’ll see when the moment comes; no doors are closed,” assured Franck Riester, the party’s deputy secretary general for elections.
In preparation for the upcoming elections, Renaissance has appointed 20 ‘pilots’ to strategize their campaign across various cities, including notable figures like Violette Spillebout in Lille and François Cormier-Bouligeon in Bourges. Remarkably, there has been no candidate suggested for the Paris election, indicating that the party is keeping its options flexible for the capital.
The 2020 municipal elections were a significant setback for Renaissance, which is still striving to establish a solid local presence. This time, the party aims to prevent the fragmentation of its forces and maximize its chances of success, even if that means forming alliances or backing candidates from other parties.
Simultaneously, the left is also grappling with transitions, as the Green party is set to finalize its leader on March 23, 2025. David Belliard, the current deputy mayor responsible for public space transformation and mobility, dominated the first round of the internal primary with 48% of the votes, while Anne-Claire Boux received 27%. Following this, Boux earned the support of the other eliminated candidates, strengthening her position going into the second round.
The Socialist party, on the other hand, has delayed its primary until June 30, 2025. Candidate Emmanuel Grégoire, a former deputy mayor who now seems disconnected from Hidalgo, is competing alongside Rémi Féraud, who is backed by Hidalgo herself. A new contender, Marion Waller, has also entered the race, further complicating the field.
Hidalgo remains optimistic, downplaying the risk of a shift to the right in the mayoral election. “In any case, not if we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot. That is, if we choose the right candidate, with the necessary strength, moral values, and ethics,” she stated in a recent interview with Libération.
The left’s confusion is further echoed in the remarks of La France Insoumise (LFI), which is yet to reveal its plans. While the Socialists are open about excluding discussions with LFI, the Greens seem more willing to entertain collaborations with them.
Opposition forces are similarly grappling with their strategies. The political equation is clear — a broad union will be essential to disrupt the left's 25-year hold on power. Candidates such as Pierre-Yves Bournazel of Horizons, who aligns with Edouard Philippe, and Francis Szpiner, a senator and former mayor of the 16th district, are already actively campaigning. Szpiner has distanced himself from Dati, recently proclaiming her the candidate of macronism.
Dati, who previously faced challenges in the 2020 elections, remains keen on the mayoral seat, musings, “Who wouldn’t dream of being the mayor of Paris?” She has gained substantial backing from figures on the right, including Agnès Evren, president of the local LR federation and Geoffroy Boulard, the LR mayor of the 17th district.
As Renaissance prepares to announce its head of list by June 30, 2025, Sylvain Maillard echoed his belief in Dati’s strong candidacy, while acknowledging internal divisions within Renaissance regarding her popularity. Adding to the atmosphere of uncertainty is an ongoing investigation by the national financial prosecutor, which has necessitated questioning Dati about her connections to the Carlos Ghosn case.
Moreover, the political backdrop could change, with a bill to reform the voting system for Paris and other cities under consideration by the National Assembly in April 2025. This change is a topic that promises to stir lively debate, given its potential implications on future elections.
As the 2026 municipal elections inch closer, the landscape is treacherously tentative, reflecting the various ambitions and alliances being formed, as both the left and the right prepare for what’s shaping up to be a fiercely contested race.
