Mayor Benoît Payan still remains the one who would make the best candidate in the next elections in 2026, according to our Ipsos – Sopra Steria survey. But the right could seriously compete with it if it manages to unite.
The Marseillais want a change of direction, but not of captain. This is what emerges from the “Marseille Municipales 2026” Ipsos – Storia Steria* barometer carried out for France 3 Provence-Alpes, France bleu and La Provence this Friday, December 15.
For the Marseillais, Mayor Benoît Payan still remains the one who would make the best candidate in the next elections in 2026 (39%), followed by the president of the regional council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Renaud Muselier (32%) , member of the Renaissance party, and senator and municipal councilor Reconquest Stéphane Ravier (29%).
If three quarters of Marseillais expect profound changes in municipal action, the leader of Printemps Marseille, who became mayor after the resignation of Michèle Rubirola in December 2020, still remains the one who obtains the best votes during our poll carried out at mid-term, with 39% of the 313 people questioned who judged that he would be a good candidate in 2026.
For Pierre Latrille, member of the Ipsos institute and co-author Benoît Payan benefits from an “institutional bonus”. “He is the mayor, so he is known. Only 16% of respondents do not have sufficient information to give an opinion.”
Despite this, the right will have a serious chance of winning if it manages to unite. In second position (32%), the president of the regional council Renaud Muselier denies wanting to run, but he works tirelessly to unite the right-wing opposition and increases the offensives against the current councilor, whom he has just accused of “political femicide” towards Michèle Rubirola.
Martine Vassal has not yet declared her intentions regarding the mayoralty in 2026, even if it is certain that she will run for the Metropolis. But like Renaud Muselier she wants a union of the right, according to Provence. A former candidate in 2020, she came in fourth position in our survey with 28% of those questioned who thought she would make a good mayor.
Lhe senator from Bouches-du-Rhône and elected to the municipal council Stéphane Ravier just ahead. His proximity to Éric Zemmour clearly does not bother his supporters: last year, he left the National Rally to join his party, Reconquest. “Despite that, he benefits from the RN dynamic”, judge Pierre Latrille.
In fifth position, the various left-wing deputy mayor of Marseille, Samia Ghali wins 21% positive opinions. She is followed by the former boss of LREM deputies and current president of the Grand Maritime Port of Marseille Christophe Castaner (18%), the Renaissance deputy and municipal councilor Lionel Royer-Perreaut (17%), the Renaissance deputy Sabrina Agresti-Roubache, propelled Secretary of State for Citizenship and the City (16%) and the deputy and coordinator of France Insoumise Manuel Bompard (14%).
Finally, the deputy of the National Rally Franck Allisio (11%) arrives tied with Frédéric Collart, surgeon and departmental advisor to the majority of Martine Vassal who has already announced that he wants to present himself, in front of the deputy of the City delegated to the ecological transition Sébastien Barles (9%), in last position.
*Survey carried out online among 813 people from November 28 to December 11, 2023.