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Matthieu Valet Launches RN Bid for Lille Mayor in 2026

The move tests RN strength in a strongly left-leaning Lille, where it took just 6.84% in 2020.

Overview

  • Valet announced on BFM Lille that he will head the Rassemblement National list for the municipal elections on March 15 and 22, 2026.
  • The 39-year-old former anti-crime brigade deputy chief is now a European Parliament member and RN spokesperson with deep local ties to Lille.
  • He casts the campaign as the start of a new era after Martine Aubry’s long tenure, which ended with Arnaud Deslandes becoming mayor in March.
  • The race features multiple lists across the spectrum, including PS led by Deslandes, EELV’s Stéphane Baly, LFI’s Lahouaria Addouche, Renaissance’s Violette Spillebout and LR’s Louis Delemer.
  • Observers view his path as challenging given Lille’s electoral history, though he argues his local profile and party platform offer a clear alternative.