Jérôme Marbot

Jérôme Marbot is a socialist politician who recently won the mayoral election in Pau, France, in March 2026. He defeated incumbent mayor François Bayrou, a prominent figure in French politics and former Prime Minister, by a narrow margin of 344 votes. This victory is newsworthy because Bayrou had held the mayoral position in Pau for twelve years, and his defeat marks a significant shift in the city's political landscape. The election was a three-way race, including a candidate from the Rassemblement National. Marbot's win represents a major victory for the left and potentially signals the end of Bayrou's long political career. Marbot's success is part of a broader trend in the 2026 municipal elections, where several major cities saw changes in leadership, including gains for the left in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille.