Perpignan’s upcoming municipal elections are a national political event in France, drawing unusual attention for a city its size. As the largest French city governed by the far right, Northern Catalonia’s capital has become a crucial battleground. The potential re-election of incumbent mayor Louis Aliot of Rassemblement National (RN) will be a key test for his party’s national ambitions and the broad coalition hoping to unseat him.

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This election acts as a symbolic prelude to the 2027 presidential election. Prominent national figures are visiting the city to support their candidates; for instance, RN president Jordan Bardella and La France Insoumise leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon are scheduled for campaign events. Consequently, Perpignan is now at the centre of France’s political debate, even before the official start of campaigning.

Aliot’s Favourable Position

Louis Aliot, vice-president of Rassemblement National, enters the race as the clear favourite. He won the 2020 election with a comfortable 53% of the vote in the second round, consolidating a solid electoral base. The only published poll for the March 2026 contest, conducted by Ifop, shows his first-round support at 44%, close to the majority needed to avoid a run-off, according to VilaWeb.

Over the past term, Aliot’s strategy has focused on managerial competence, prioritising security, urban cleanliness, and engagement with certain social sectors. He has largely avoided the inflammatory rhetoric common in previous far-right local governments, instead reinforcing the municipal police force and maintaining a consistent cultural policy.

However, Aliot’s tenure has clearly sought to dilute the city’s distinct Catalan identity. One symbolic act involved changing the municipal motto from “Perpinyà la Catalana” (Perpignan the Catalan) to “Perpignan la Rayonnante” (Perpignan the Radiant). He also ordered the French flag flown atop the historic Castillet. Many saw this move as a snub to local heritage and a challenge to institutions like the city’s Catalan-language schools, which continue to fight for funding and recognition. You can read more about this in our article: La Bressola 50th Anniversary: Funding Focus for Catalan Schools.

A significant shadow hangs over Aliot’s candidacy: his involvement in the long-running National Front assistants affair, concerning the alleged misuse of European Parliament funds. Although his sentence is not yet final, a conviction this summer could disqualify him from office. His campaign is actively preparing for this possibility; his candidate list includes high-profile deputies who could step in, such as Anaïs Sabatini, Michèle Martinez, and Sandrine Dogor-Such.

To broaden his appeal, Aliot has also incorporated figures from Jean-Marc Pujol’s previous centre-right administration, including former deputy mayor Pierre Parrat. Symbolically, Pujol’s partner, Fatima Dahine, is also on his list.

A Fractured Opposition

Despite widespread calls to block the far right, Aliot’s greatest asset might be his opponents’ profound fragmentation. Four significant candidacies are vying to unseat him, each representing starkly different political spaces with little sign of a unified strategy for a potential second round.

  • Agnès Langevine, vice-president of the Occitanie region, leads a ticket backed by the Socialist Party and the environmentalist Place Publique party. Her platform is a direct counter to Aliot’s, promising to restore the “Perpinyà la Catalana” motto, strengthen the Catalan language’s public presence, and revitalise the city centre with a focus on commerce and culture.
  • Mathias Blanc represents a dissident socialist faction. After a bitter internal dispute, the former head of the local Socialist Party branch is running his own campaign, further splitting the social democratic vote that was once a major force in the city.
  • Mickaël Idrac is heading the list for La France Insoumise, the Greens, and Génération.s. He aims to present the clearest alternative to Aliot, focusing his campaign on social inequality and urban regeneration in the city’s most deprived neighbourhoods. His campaign is heavily supported by the national party leadership, explicitly framing the election as a national contest between the alternative left and the far right.
  • Bruno Nougayrède, a local businessman and current councillor, represents the traditional right.

A National Test Case

Perpignan’s intense national focus underscores its symbolic importance. Critics accuse Aliot’s administration of stagnation, citing a lack of major structural projects to tackle the city’s high levels of poverty and unemployment. For opponents, reclaiming the city hall is not merely about local governance; it is about halting the normalisation of the far right in one of its most significant strongholds.

As the official campaign begins, all eyes will be on whether the fractured opposition can unite behind a single candidate in a potential second round. Without a unified front, Louis Aliot remains in a strong position to secure another term. Such a result would resonate far beyond the plains of Northern Catalonia and across the French political landscape.