The 2026 municipal elections also transpired against the backdrop of intense media demonization of the France Unbowed, accused of complicity in the death of a neonazi youth in Lyon; as well as accusations of antisemitism, &c. leveled against the movement’s founder, Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Despite this, the Unbowed ran on an ambitious proposal they call “the new municipalism.”
The following article was first published in French on the site of the Unbowed communists association, insoumiscommunistes.fr.
The 2026 municipal elections marked a frank success for the France Unbowed. Ten cities won, totaling around 600,000 inhabitants, and several villages as well : 400 communes in which there will be Unbowed city councilors, impacting 16 million people.
And above all a political victory.
Our most unfriendly friends had a lone objective: to make us disappear. They had hoped, and even at times publcily avowed, that their goal was that the France Unbowed would not get 10% of the votes in the first round. Well, in at least 90 communes we did get more than 10%, and in 70 more than 20%. We have become an inexorable force with which alliances are forged even against the will of the old left.
We made clear alliances, without obscuring our politics: above all, blocking the National Rally from winning. At times we made programmatic alliances, pacts to lead cities together, but also when there was political incompatibility, we made technical alliances to obstruct the right and far-right. The France Unbowed is trustworthy and does not sell out her political line.
Our best scores were among the popular classes, in their neighborhoods, where the people mobilized. The most emblematic example, not to forget Roubaix, is without a doubt that of Saint-Denis-Pierrefitte where our friend Bally Bagayoko, an Unbowed communist, won by a large margin in the first round with support from the popular neighborhoods awarding him 70% of the vote. The youth were engaged across the city, and the union with the French Communist Party (PCF) worked. This example points the way for 2027.
Municipalism is not only something we discuss before elections, but must be confirmed by how we lead the cities that we have won, that we will lead by and with the people. Municipalism will also contribute to forge our victory in the coming presidential elections next year. As Jean-Luc Mélenchon put it, we cannot change society unless the whole citizenry involves itself.
Onward!
