Municipal elections in Marseille will take place on March 15 and March 22, 2026, as part of France’s nationwide local elections. Incumbent mayor Benoît Payan is seeking re-election after first taking office in 2020 at the head of a broad left-wing coalition, with several French-Armenian candidates and community figures featured prominently on his electoral list.
The race in France’s second-largest city is expected to be competitive, with several political forces seeking control of the municipality. The elections will determine the composition of the municipal council, which will then elect the mayor and deputy mayors for a six-year term.
The presence of numerous French-Armenian candidates on Payan’s list reflects the longstanding civic and political engagement of Marseille’s Armenian community—one of the largest Armenian diasporas in Europe.
Among the Armenian candidates included on the central list are current deputy mayor Yannick Ohanessian, as well as Azad Balalas Kazandjian, a member of the CDCA (Armenian National Committee of France) and Co-President of CCAF South. Also included are Julien Harounyan, Audrey Gatian, Aurélien Petitjean-Levonian, Lia Taghianosyan, and Eric Semerdjian.
A number of Armenians also appear on the sector lists, which correspond to Marseille’s district councils. These include Maxime Vaytet Cazarian, one of the heads of UGA Ardziv Homenetmen, as well as Louka Certa, Grisha Mkhrtchyan, and Mano Banoyan.
Observers note that Payan has maintained close ties with the Armenian community during his tenure, publicly supporting Armenian causes and remaining attentive to issues concerning Armenia and Artsakh.
Municipal elections in France follow a two-round system. If no candidate list secures an outright majority in the first round, a runoff vote is held one week later. In Marseille, the stakes are particularly significant as the results will also determine the mayors of the sector councils (arrondissements).
The outcome of the elections will shape Marseille’s political direction through 2032, influencing urban development, social policies, and the city’s international partnerships.
