The Greens suffer from a chronic disease of infighting, especially when a major election is on the horizon, which often leads to sabotaging their chances of victory prematurely. This has been a recurring issue for the past thirty years, with the most recent example being the 2022 presidential election where Yannick Jadot, the winner of the EELV primary, had to navigate a difficult campaign with his rival Sandrine Rousseau and ended up with only 4.63% of the vote. The upcoming 2026 Paris municipal election raises questions about whether this pattern will continue.
On paper, the situation seems promising. The process for selecting the Green Party candidate, who has been present in the first round of elections since 2001, will be determined within a year. There is talk of organizing a primary for the 1,200 party members to choose their candidate, with the possibility of opening it up to all Parisians who identify as environmentalists. However, with four prominent figures eyeing the candidacy, internal conflicts may arise.
Yannick Jadot, a former MEP, is one of the potential candidates for the Paris mayoral race. He has yet to officially declare his intentions, but speculation is rife about his ambitions, especially since he has hinted at considering a run for mayor. Despite his national recognition, his popularity among Parisian Greens may not be high, and he faces competition from other strong contenders like David Belliard, the current deputy mayor in charge of urban transformation and transportation.
David Belliard, 45, seems more inclined to throw his hat in the ring for the mayoral race. With his experience as a deputy mayor and his previous campaign as a mayoral candidate in 2020, he brings a unique perspective to the table. However, his previous loss in the 2020 election raises concerns about his electability in a city that has seen the rise of Green mayors in other major cities like Lyon, Bordeaux, and Strasbourg.
The upcoming Paris municipal election presents a crucial opportunity for the Green Party to make a mark in urban politics. With multiple potential candidates vying for the nomination, including well-known figures like Yannick Jadot and David Belliard, the party must navigate internal divisions and focus on presenting a united front to voters. The outcome of this election will test the party’s ability to overcome past challenges and demonstrate its readiness to lead in a major city like Paris.
