foret-urbaine-arbres-hotel-de-ville-paris-inaugura

Municipal Elections 2026: How do the candidates want to transform the capital?

undefined undefined 2 mars 2026 undefined 08h30

undefined undefined 3 mars 2026 undefined 15h58

The Editor

© Telly / Shutterstock

As the socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, prepares to hand over her sash at the end of March, no less than nine candidates have stepped up to succeed her. Five of them even have a good chance of making it to the second round, according to the latest OpinionWay survey. Here’s a little overview of their programs just two weeks before the election. 

With less than two weeks to go before the first round of the municipal elections in Paris, the race for the City Hall is heating up. Among the nine candidates in the running, five are standing out and could make it to the second round. With soaring rents, persistent traffic jams, climate urgency, and ever-tightening budgetary balances, Le Bonbon breaks down the measures that could transform the face of Paris.


Emmanuel Grégoire (PS)

For a long time, he stayed in the shadow of Anne Hidalgo and was trained by Bertrand Delanoë. It was last June that Emmanuel Grégoire emerged as the candidate for the Paris mayoralty for the Socialist Party. Despite the hesitations of the outgoing mayor and in order to secure a clear lead on the evening of the first round, the elected socialist had to form an alliance in December with the Ecologists and the PCF, as both his campaign and the polls weren't really taking off. 

However, he managed to turn the tide, boosted by a successful launch meeting at La Bellevilloise in early January and his in-depth knowledge of Parisian issues. He now hovers around 30% of the voting intentions, just ahead of Rachida Dati (LR).

g>, despite a decline of 10 points compared to the PS-EELV total in 2020.

Contested over part of the municipal report (anti-homeless street furniture, concreteization, gentrification), it also suffers from a relatively low profile for a favorite and a significant delay on social media compared to other candidates (Dati, Knafo...). The emergence of the Nouveau P list.

Popular Aris supported by Sophia Chikirou, who attracts some eco-friendly elected officials, and could make it to the second round, further weakens its dynamic. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Challenges (@challenges)

On the program side, the social-democratic candidate puts housing at the heart of their project with 60,000 additional public housing units, the transformation of offices into residences, and a rebalancing towards the western part of Paris. At the same time, they promise a «housing brigade»as well as 4,000 emergency housing spaces, presenting itself as the guarantor of a more accessible city, even going so far as to exclude any increase in property tax.

In the environmental field, the candidate is committed to reducing the space for individual cars by creating 1,000 pedestrian streets, while showing determination in continuing to develop bike lanes. If elected, the ring road would gradually be transformed.

urban boulevard in the name of public health.

On the transportation side, the elected official made waves by proposing, as early as October, the idea of a metro running all night. Among the key projects are also the implementation of faster buses thanks to 15 express lines, the extension of the Petite Ceinture, the transformation of avenues into gardens, and the creation of new swimming areas, particularly at Bastille.


Rachida Dati (LR)

For a long time, a key figure in the municipal opposition and mayor of the 7th arrondissement, Rachida Dati positions herself as the main alternative to the left after eighteen years away from the Town Hall. With around 28% in the polls, slightly behind Emmanuel Grégoire, she is nonetheless hindered by a splitting of votes on the right and calls for unity from the first round to avoid an unfavorable three-way competition. 

The LR candidate is advocating for a « disruptive program » focused on security, cleanliness, and financial recovery. She promises 5,000 armed and trained municipal police officers, along with a doubled number of surveillance cameras. After the issues in the after-school programs, she plans to call an extraordinary Paris Council right after her election and establish a strict rule: no child alone with a supervisor, along with a return to a four-day school week.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Dati 2026 (@pourdati2026)

On the budgetary front, Rachida Dati is focusing on debt, which she estimates at 12 billion euros, making it her main point of attack and management shock”, particularly through the reduction of certain subsidies and a halt to the growth of social housing to prioritize the renovation of existing structures.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Rachida Dati (@rachida.dati)

On the quality of life side, she supports the privatization of waste collection, the transformation of Place de la République, and the de-paving of the banks of the Seine to create a “great urban park”. She also promises to make the metro fully accessible for people with disabilities, confidently stating a clear mission: restore order, clean up the finances, and “get Paris back on its feet”.


Sophia Chikirou (LFI)

Elected as a deputy in the first round of the early legislative elections in 2024, Sophia Chikirou is setting her sights on the City Hall under the banner of La France insoumise, aiming to be a left-wing alternative to Parisian social democracy. In her face-off against Emmanuel Grégoire, she calls for a "renewal" and embraces a much more progressive stance, especially on ecology, housing, and public services.

Regarding security, Sophia Chikirou advocates for a prevention-centered approach and on-the-ground presence. She proposes 3,500 “truly trained” agents, the creation of local branches bringing together municipal police, mediators, and social workers, along with specialized units (tourism, mental health, gender-based and sexual violence), all with the aim of ensuring a quicker and more tailored response to everyday situations. She also wants to double the number of specialized educators and massively strengthen street mediation.

Just like Emmanuel Grégoire, housing is the central focus of her program. Sophia Chikirou aims to bring back to the market tens of thousands of vacant properties or tourist rentals, hunt down illegal rentals like Airbnb, and create a public rental management service. She also proposes direct municipal assistance for 50,000 low-income households, a freeze on rents in social housing during the first year, and increased use of the right of preemption.

On the transport side, she advocates for free access for those under 25, a freeze on fares, and enhanced local bus services. She aims to reduce car usage, gradually transform the ring road into an urban boulevard, and create a public bike service with lower rates.

Lastly, the candidate promises a complete remunicipalization of cleanliness, 300 additional hires, and a goal of «zero waste». Environmentally, she wants to reduce concrete in favor of green spaces, restore soil health, and set up a local public energy company to accelerate solar deployment. A clear stance: more public services, more regulation, and a city designed with people in mind.

first for its residents.

See this post on Instagram

A post shared by La France insoumise Paris (@lafranceinsoumiseparis)


Pierre-Yves Bournazel (Horizons-Renaissance)

For a long time, a local elected official reaching 11% in the polls, Pierre-Yves Bournazel is running for the mayor of Paris with a platform centered on “a peaceful Paris”, claiming a...

breaking project against the outgoing majority and the dynamics of the left and right. Supported by Renaissance and Horizons, it positions itself as an alternative to the socialist Emmanuel Grégoire and Rachida Dati, claiming a centrist and independent line, without alliances with the extremes.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Renaissance (@renaissance)

The security is at the heart of his program. He aims to increase the municipal police force to 6,000 officers, with an immediate presence « within the first hundred days » in the streets and the metro, to ensure a quick and visible response to the needs of Parisians. His plan also includes agreements with the region and Île-de-France Mobilités to secure public transport in the evenings and guarantee a general public order.

On the housing side, Pierre-Yves Bournazel aims to bring back 60,000 private housing units to the market through incentive measures, finance energy renovations for 90,000 homes, and maintain social housing at 25% for working Parisians, with the goal of allowing middle-class families to live in the capital without breaking the bank.

Regarding living conditions, he promises « a cleanliness revolution » through the privatization of municipal services, with visible results quickly, and the creation of 80,000 free underground parking spaces to free up public spaces. He also plans numerous urban transformations: rehabilitation of the Petite Ceinture, development of the banks of the Seine, implementation of 1,000 calming streets, and reduction of noise and thermal nuisances.

Finally, the candidate highlights a budget plan that’s “penny perfect”, featuring 4.2 billion euros in savings over six years and a modernization of municipal administration to reduce debt and enhance transparency. Their goal is to create a safer, more breathable, and better-organized Paris, while showcasing a modern image through digital tools like a dedicated chatbot for their campaign.


Sarah Knafo (Reconquest)

The latest candidate to jump into the race for the Paris mayoral election, Sarah Knafo, Member of the European Parliament from Reconquest, is putting forward a program focused on enhanced security, a reduction in social housing, and the liberalization of traffic. She presents herself as an identitarian and authoritative alternative to the duo Grégoire–Dati, with a message centered on order and repression. Since announcing her candidacy in January 2026 on TF1, she has amplified her media appearances and is establishing herself as the mini-media phenomenon of the campaign, spreading controversial and often contested messages.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par BFM (@bfmtv)

When it comes to security, Sarah Knafo is all about «zero tolerance»: she wants to quadruple the number of municipal police officers to 8,000 armed agents and ensure a permanent presence in key locations. Her plan also includes using artificial intelligence to detect crimes and offenses through the city's cameras.

On the housing front, she proposes to eliminate rent control and freeze the construction of social housing in favor of a «major homeownership plan» that includes the annual sale of 4,000 social housing units. She's also planning an application to simplify and make «transparent» the allocation of remaining housing, and reduce property taxes right from the first budget.

Voir cette publication sur Instagram

Une publication partagée par Sarah Knafo (@sarahknafo1)

On the traffic and transport side, Sarah Knafo wants to reopen all riverside roads to cars, build a suspended pedestrian walkway, and create 15,000 additional parking spaces, while experimenting with artificial intelligence to regulate traffic lights. She envisions a “smoother” city for vehicles, even at the expense of pedestrians, with standardized parking rates and infrastructure tailored for professionals.

Finally, the candidate aims to drastically reduce public spending, with nearly 9.4 billion euros in savings over the term, through reducing municipal staff and strictly controlling social benefits. She also proposes to eliminate certain representation expenses for elected officials and reduce the number of deputies, all while promoting an image of firmness and transparency.

Alongside these five frontrunners, other candidates like Thierry Mariani (RN), Blandine Chauvel (NPA-R), Marielle Saulnier (LO), and Mahel Pierot-Guimbaud (PT) are also presenting their proposals for Paris, offering a wider range of choices for voters.