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FORGOTTEN HISTORY: National rally | History Defined

French local elections: political scientist on what’s next for the hard right and radical left

In the wake of the final round of France’s local elections, we asked political pundit Frédéric Sawicki what the mayoral vote tells us about the political future of the two main contenders - National rally (RN) and La France Insoumise (LFI)?

The Conversation

French local election results give unexpected lift to centrist parties

Outcome suggests that when mainstream parties cooperate they can still block Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally

The Guardian - UK

Mayoral races in balance as voting opens in last round of French local elections

Electoral alliances expected to play vital role in number of contests including Paris and Marseille

The Guardian - UK

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What to watch in the deciding round of France's local elections

Voters cast their ballots on Sunday in the second round of elections that will decide who runs France's biggest cities. Beyond selecting local mayors and councillors, the polls could give clues which way French voters are leaning – and what deals parties are prepared to do – ahead of a…

Radio France Internationale

France’s parity law boosts female candidates, but most mayors are still men

France's municipal elections will reshape leadership in all of its 34,875 communes. While the final results won't be known until 22 March after the second round, we do already know that half the municipal councillors will be women, following recent changes to the law – but only a quarter of…

Radio France Internationale

Marseille tight, Paris uncertain after first round of French local elections

Uncertainty reigns in France’s largest cities after Sunday’s first round of local elections, starting with Paris, where the Socialist candidate was leading, but whose victory in the second round could be upset by the hard left candidate’s remaining in the race. The far right appeared strong in several southern cities,…

Radio France Internationale

Notable actor absent from Oscar’s In Memoriam segment

Brigitte Bardot was notably absent from the extended In Memoriam segment at this year's Oscars, despite her passing in December at 91. The French actor became a controversial figure due to a series of Islamophobic and homophobic comments made throughout her later life and career. She was a prominent supporter…

The Independent UK

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First-round of French local elections sees strong showing for National Rally and LFI

Far-right and radical left parties likely to increase their local presence in advance of next year’s presidential race

The Guardian - UK

‘It would be an earthquake for France’: is Marseille about to vote in the far right?

A National Rally victory in France’s second city in municipal elections that start on Sunday would be hailed by the party as a step towards taking the presidency next year

The Guardian - UK

France's local elections: who are the contenders in the battle for Paris?

The Socialist Party took control of Paris in 2001, after 130 years of right-wing dominance, but now the controversial 12-year legacy of Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo has fuelled bids for a change of direction. We look at the six main contenders in the upcoming municipal elections and the issues they're…

Radio France Internationale

Marseille is a haven for artists and progressives. How could it be on the cusp of far-right rule?

France’s coolest city has been shaped by immigration, yet a win for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally in local elections could be seismic – for the whole country, says Marseille-based journalist Mary Fitzgerald

The Guardian - UK

What you need to know about France's 2026 local elections

France goes to the polls on 15 and 22 March to elect 34,875 mayors, in a vote seen as a key test ahead of next year's presidential election. The two-round ballot will measure the strength of the far-right National Rally (RN) and showcase what types of alliances could emerge in…

Radio France Internationale

More than 3,000 march in Lyon in tribute to far-right activist

Around 3,200 people marched in the southern French city of Lyon on Saturday in memory of Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist who died last weekend following a street brawl there between ultranationalist and anti-fascist militants.

Radio France Internationale

Economists say French far right won’t sway ECB pick, but successor manoeuvring is ‘not a good look’

Analysts say a far-right victory in France would not be able to force through a 'maverick” candidate or rewrite economic policy, though the political manoeuvring risks undermining the ECB’s reputation.

Euronews

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Radio France Internationale

Nine arrested as Lyon activist killing becomes flashpoint in French politics

Nine suspects have been arrested in the investigation into the killing of right-wing activist Quentin Deranque, a case that has intensified tensions between France’s far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March, and the presidential election in 2027.

Euronews

Nine suspects arrested in killing of French far-right activist in Lyon

The incident has fuelled tensions between the far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March and the presidential election next year.

Radio France Internationale

Paris appeals court to rule on Le Pen corruption case in July

French appeal court judges said they will deliver their ruling on 7 July in the corruption case against Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) – a decision that could determine whether she can run in the 2027 presidential election.

Euronews

Paris court sets 7 July for ruling in far-right leader Marine Le Pen's EU funds graft appeal case

In March 2025, a Paris court ruled that Le Pen was at the heart of "a fraudulent system" that her party used to siphon off European Parliament funds worth €2.9 million.

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Euronews

France adopts 2026 budget after government survives no-confidence votes

After several months of stalemate, the long-overdue State budget for 2026 has finally been adopted.

Euronews

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen walks fine line in appeal trial

Back on the stand after a first day of hearings on Tuesday, Marine Le Pen continues to deny having run a coordinated scheme to misuse European Parliament funds.

Euronews

France's Marine Le Pen returns to court as appeal could decide her 2027 presidential fate

A Paris appeal court will decide whether the far-right figurehead can run for president in 2027, as attention increasingly turns to her 30-year-old protégé and MEP Jordan Bardella.

Euronews

Europe Today: Vestager says Trump's Greenland ambitions represent 'existential threat' for NATO

Also in this newsletter: how the EU is ramping up diplomatic pressure on Iran, why Brussels has frozen Hungarian files ahead of April's ballot, and how an appeal kicking off in Paris today could shape France's political future.

Radio France Internationale

French far-right leader Le Pen in high-stakes trial ahead of presidential race

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is back in the spotlight as she launches a high-stakes appeal in Paris that will decide whether she can stand in the 2027 presidential election.

The Guardian - UK

Marine Le Pen’s appeal against embezzlement conviction begins

Trial’s outcome will determine whether leader of far-right National Rally can run for French presidency in 2027

The Guardian - UK

Brigitte Bardot’s image complicated by her controversial politics

Film star turned animal rights activist was anti-immigration and was repeatedly convicted of racial hatred, particularly towards Muslims

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