French Far-Right Makes Gains in First-Round Municipal Vote
France's National Rally has held its key cities and made first-round gains in municipal elections, with party leader Jordan Bardella now urging voters to consolidate those gains in next week's final round. The results serve as a significant barometer of political momentum ahead of the 2027 presidential race, in which Bardella is a potential candidate. The RN's stronghold of Perpignan remains firmly in its column as the left and centre scramble to build tactical alliances.
France's National Rally has spent decades transforming from a pariah movement, founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen in 1972, into a mainstream electoral force. That shift accelerated under Marine Le Pen's leadership after 2011, when she systematically detoxified the brand — dropping overtly antisemitic rhetoric, emphasizing ec…
