The results of the first round of the 2026 municipal elections confirm the (hopelessly?) fragmented state of French politics and the growing apathy of much of the electorate. Participation was dismal. The parties formerly known as “mainstream”–the Socialists and Republicans–showed some resilience, but the extremes of both right and left progressed. Eric Ciotti is well on his way to realizing his dream of becoming mayor of Nice, for which he sacrificed any claim on national leadership. The RN is a growing presence at the local level but didn’t claim the biggest prizes that seemed within reach. Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s “strategy of rupture”–with the republican front, with left-wing solidarity, and with ordinary decency–unfortunately appears to have earned dividends. Clearly, the counter-strategy of casting LFI as a pariah party has not worked, no doubt because many voters regard stepping over the line as confirmation of the aggressive repudiation of the status quo they are seeking. That said, I will hold my peace until the second-round results are in.
