Overview

• Prime Minister François Bayrou has prioritized reforming the municipal election system in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, known as the 'PLM' system, which has been in place since 1982.
• The proposed reform seeks to introduce direct elections for mayors in these cities, replacing the current system where mayors are indirectly chosen by arrondissement or sector councilors.
• Bayrou plans for the legislation to be debated in the National Assembly by mid-March and passed by the Senate before summer, ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
• Critics, particularly from the left, argue the timing is inappropriate, citing an informal norm against changing electoral rules less than a year before an election cycle begins.
• Supporters of the reform, including President Emmanuel Macron, describe the current system as an 'anomaly' and emphasize the need for equal voting rights across all French municipalities.