April 21st in Sarthe: when the RN conquered La Flèche

In a note for the Fondation Jean-Jaurès, Jérôme Fourquet analyzes the Rassemblement National’s victory in the 2026 municipal elections in La Flèche, Sarthe. This victory, unprecedented in the Grand Ouest region, reflects the long-standing progression of the RN vote in the department, the end of a long local political cycle on the left, and a growing divide between the city center and outlying districts. An enlightening read to understand how the RN managed to impose itself in a city that did not, a priori, present the classic profile of its lands of conquest.