France
The second round of the municipal elections marked a political shift in Montargis. At 36, Côme Dunis secured a narrow victory, becoming one of the new local faces of the Rassemblement national (RN). Once associated with the “Yellow Vests” protest movement, he now represents the party’s growing foothold in France’s mid-sized towns.
The race was decided by just 59 votes. In a tightly contested three-way runoff, Dunis won 34.64% of the vote. The left-wing coalition, led by Communist candidate Bruno Nottin, finished ahead of incumbent mayor Benoît Digeon of the conservative party Les Républicains, who came third with 32.6%. The outcome triggered mixed reactions: supporters described the win as legitimate, while opponents pointed out that a majority of voters did not back the RN candidate.
The morning after the election, Dunis appeared alongside RN Member of Parliament Thomas Ménagé, emphasizing what his camp views as a historic breakthrough in this department located about 90 minutes from Paris. For party leaders such as Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, victories like this reflect the RN’s strategy of consolidating influence beyond its traditional strongholds.
Although Dunis has pledged to govern without sectarianism and to remain open to ideas from across the political spectrum, his priorities closely align with the RN platform: strengthening security, tackling drug trafficking, reducing public spending, and lowering local taxes.
The result signals a broader political realignment at the local level, highlighting the RN’s continued expansion into France’s medium-sized municipalities.
