@straphanger The bad news is that the far-right RN established too well in middle sized towns and also rural regions.
After the election reform, we have only 1 or 2 mixed lists in smaller municipalities, without assigning parties. RN members hide in such lists. And you can't delete candidates like in former times, you have to vote for or against the whole list. So they won more towns than at the last elections. The danger for democracy is still big.
https://www.franceinfo.fr/elections/quelles-sont-les-lecons-a-tirer-des-resultats-du-2d-tour-des-municipales-2026-a-un-an-de-l-election-presidentielle_7888268.html