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

AI Briefing

• – France holds 2026 local elections on March 15-22, marking a key test for the far-right National Rally ahead of next year's presidential election.
• – The two-round ballot will assess the strength of the RN and potential alliances in a fragmented landscape.
• – The elections come as France grapples with high levels of unemployment and economic discontent.