Overview

• Vassal, who leads the Bouches-du-Rhône department and the Aix–Marseille–Provence metropolis, formally declared her candidacy and presented a right–center alliance featuring Sabrina Agresti‑Roubache and Valérie Boyer with public support from Renaud Muselier.
• Setting security and the economy as priorities, she proposed an anti-begging decree, stronger municipal policing, and expanded video surveillance, and on Monday accused incumbent Benoît Payan of pitting communities against each other.
• A preliminary inquiry is underway into allegations including diversion of public funds and influence peddling following a report by a former departmental official, which she dismisses as smear tactics.
• The race remains fluid as RN deputy Franck Allisio is already in the field, Payan has not confirmed his plans, LFI’s Sébastien Delogu promises a separate list, and Green deputy mayor Sébastien Barles urges a broad left union.
• Internal tensions persist for Vassal with departmental councillor Frédéric Collart exploring a civil‑society bid, and all camps are recalculating strategies under new PLM rules that split votes between the central council and sector mayors.