The number of mayors destined to represent in 2026 does not reveal a crisis of vocations per year from the deadline, even if the elected officials of small municipalities seem to be the most reluctant, according to an investigation presented this Tuesday, April 8.
According to this survey on “the intentions of the outgoing mayors” carried out with more than 5,000 mayors, 42% of the departure of the wishes to be represented in March 2026, a rate “according to the previous mandates”, while 28% surrender and 30% are not decided.
“The climate around resignations could have suggested that there is a movement of fed up. This movement should not be ruled out (…), but the research shows that beyond the difficulties, there really is the desire to serve, to be useful,” explains the author of The Martial Foucault, professor of Sciences Po.
The mayors of the small municipalities are less reached
In 2014 and 2020, 60% of candidate mayors had been selected. The less the municipality is great and the less the desire to participate is important: only 37% of the mayors of the municipalities of less than 500 inhabitants want to represent themselves against 70% of the mayors of communes of more than 9,000 inhabitants.
A gap “that reveals unequal means, administrative expenses experienced as overwhelming, but also more weighing isolation in small municipalities”, according to the synthesis of the study, which also evokes the advanced age of certain elected officials.
If almost one in two mayor is now retired, only 33% of retired mayors plan to represent themselves, compared to 53% of assets.
An “alert signal,” according to the political scientist, “given the strong limitations linked to the reconciliation of a professional life and a mandate of the mayor.”
Among the causes of resignation, mental state plays an important role, “happy” mayors are almost three times more numerous to declare candidates than “unhappy.”
The most cited external reasons are the lack of financial resources (17%) and the too strong requirement of citizens (15%), while the sense of duty (20%) and “overexposure to citizens’ behavior” (19%) reach the top of the personal reasons mentioned.
About 61% of respondents declare that they have undergone incivility, such as impolites or aggressive behavior, a descending figure eight points compared to 2023, while physical assaults are stable (7%).
The survey conducted in association with the Ministry of Regional Planning and six associations chosen was administered online from more than 5,200 mayors between March 3 and 31.
Source: BFM TV
