One Month in RN Cities
20th May 2026
It has been just over a month since the Rassemblement National (RN) took office for the first time in a whole host of town halls across France. The Left is crying foul and expressing concern at the prospect of sweeping cuts to funding for community organisations and culture. But this is precisely why Jordan Bardella’s party has been entrusted with the reins of so many towns: to put an end to the shameless squandering of public money that has long ceased to benefit French citizens.
Since the last local elections, the towns now under RN administration have become political showcases under close scrutiny. The new RN mayors have swiftly implemented symbolic and concrete measures designed to mark a break with the former ruling parties. For their supporters, these measures respond to a demand for local engagement, a sense of local identity, and firmness in municipal management. For the Left and community organisations, these measures are a cause for concern.
Among the first decisions highlighted in several municipalities led by the RN is the reallocation of municipal grants. According to Valeurs actuelles, several mayors have chosen to scrap or reduce funding for certain associations deemed to be activist or overly politicised. Instead, they claim to want to prioritise local organisations focused on neighbourhood activities, popular traditions, or direct services to the public.