French voters head to polls in municipal runoffs with focus on Paris Marseille Lyon

Paris, Mar 22 (AP) French voters are returning to the polls Sunday for the second and final round of municipal elections in over 1,500 communes.
    The vote is a test of the balance of power on France's local political map before the 2027 presidential race begins to take shape. It is also a measure of whether the far right can convert national momentum into control of major cities, where it has often struggled to break through.
    The most closely watched contests are concentrated in major cities after a first round that left France's traditional left and right competitive, the far right strongly placed in several urban races, and President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance movement keeping a low profile in many of the most closely watched races.
    After days of mergers, withdrawals and tactical deals between lists, three-way races remain common in the runoff.
    Paris is one of the biggest prizes. Emmanuel Grégoire, heading a united left and green list, finished first in the opening round with 37.98 per cent of the vote, ahead of conservative Rachida Dati on 25.46 per cent, while La France Insoumise candidate Sophia Chikirou stayed in the race, setting up a volatile three-way contest.
    Marseille is another marquee battle, where incumbent left-wing Mayor Benoît Payan led with 36.70 per cent, only narrowly ahead of far-right candidate Franck Allisio on 35.02 per cent, with Martine Vassal of the right also still in play.
    In Lyon, the runoff is shaping up as a direct duel after ecologist incumbent Grégory Doucet took 37.36 per cent in the first round, just ahead of centrist challenger Jean-Michel Aulas on 36.78 per cent.
    Toulouse will test the appeal of LFI in a large city after François Piquemal joined forces with the broader left to try to unseat conservative Mayor Jean-Luc Moudenc, who led the first round with 37.23 per cent.
    Other large-city contests will also be watched closely.
    In Nice, Eric Ciotti led the first round with 43.43 per cent, ahead of Christian Estrosi on 30.92 per cent, highlighting a split on the right between Estrosi's more mainstream conservative camp and Ciotti, who is aligned with the far right.
    In Nantes, Socialist Mayor Johanna Rolland starts the runoff ahead of her right-wing challenger, while Bordeaux remains open after incumbent Pierre Hurmic topped a fragmented field. (AP)
    
PRK

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)