France votes Sunday for mayors in major cities, a critical indicator for next year's presidential election. Paris may flip to the right after 25 years of Socialist rule as center-right candidate Rachida Dati challenges Socialist Emmanuel Grégoire. Hard-right ally Eric Ciotti leads in Nice.
The election centers on controversial left-wing alliances. Hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, partnered with Socialists and Greens in 26 cities to counter the right. But these pacts face backlash following a far-right student's murder by suspected LFI-linked militants and Mélenchon's comments on Jeffrey Epstein's Jewish identity.
Despite recent Socialist condemnations, they joined forces to block the right, even where mainstream conservatives dominate. In Paris, Socialists refused an LFI alliance, leaving candidate Sophia Chikirou in the race. Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe's likely win in Le Havre boosts his presidential bid.
