Paris Municipal Elections 2026: What Are the Candidates’ Stances on Security? Who Says What?

Security stands front and center in Paris’s upcoming municipal campaign for the March 15 and 22, 2026 elections. From police presence and surveillance cameras to community outreach and staffing levels — here are the main candidates’ proposals. Who’s promising what? Here’s a quick overview.

Come March 2026, Parisians will head to the polls to elect their municipal representatives. On March 15 and 22, the municipal elections in Paris will take place under a new set of rules, featuring a fresh voting method: voters will need to cast two ballots — one for district councilors and another for Paris city councilors. This reform, aimed at providing clearer local representation, will play a crucial role in shaping the political landscape of the capital over the next six years.

Housing, Economy, Cleanliness, Education, Culture... These are all topics that the candidates in this municipal election will also need to address... Among the main concerns of Parisians, safety often ranks high. In Paris, safety directly impacts residents’ daily lives — including municipal police, public space tranquility, compliance with civil conduct, preventing petty crime, transport and school security, etc.

The City of Paris has several tools at its disposal that effectively shape local security:

Municipal Police: While its powers are limited by the state, the city can choose to enhance its capabilities, increase staffing, armament, and expand its responsibilities.
Video Surveillance and Technical Equipment: The municipality has the option to invest in CCTV systems, emergency alert buttons, and technologies in collaboration with the police prefecture.
Partnerships and Coordination: This includes working closely with the police prefecture, government services, district councils, and specialized community organizations.
Prevention Policies: Educational initiatives, mediations, public lighting, and urban planning aimed at reducing risky behaviors.

Actions that directly affect Parisians, residents of Île-de-France, and passing tourists. If safety is a priority for you, Sortiraparis has compiled a list of proposals from the candidates running in the 2026 Municipal Elections in Paris. This way, you'll have all the information you need to make an informed decision when the time comes, at the ballot box.

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Proposals Focused on Security for the 2026 Paris Municipal Elections

Please note that these proposals are regularly updated as programs are published and candidates are announced. In some cases, detailed measures may not yet be specified in publicly available sources; such omissions are duly noted.

Pierre-Yves Bournazel (Horizons – Supported by Renaissance)

Tripling the number of municipal police officers in Paris, increasing from 2,200 to 6,000 officers. (Source: CNEWS)
Equipping municipal police with firearms such as pistols and providing them with the tools necessary for their duties. (Source: CNEWS)
Ensuring municipal police are operational 24/7 via a dedicated hotline. (Source: CNEWS)
Expanding the powers of municipal police to include witnessing and reporting infractions, issuing fines, and using automated systems such as license plate recognition. (Source: Le Parisien)
Establishing a drone unit in partnership with the police prefecture to monitor key areas and assist patrols. (Source: CNEWS)
Testing and deploying algorithmic video monitoring on city surveillance cameras. (Source: CNEWS)
Systematically installing surveillance cameras outside schools and colleges. (Source: Valeurs Actuelles)
Adding security buttons in schools linked directly to police stations. (Source: Valeurs Actuelles)
Providing priority access to social housing to retain recruited municipal officers. (Source: CNEWS)
Mandatory nightly police patrols in the metro, alongside dedicated transit police, especially to combat violence, including sexual assault. (Source: Europe 1)
Launching a canine unit focused on apprehending traffickers and destroying seized goods. (Source: Le Parisien)
Municipal police involvement in social housing common areas to address disturbances and incivilities. (Source: Le Parisien)
Proposing targeted administrative closures of businesses laundering money from trafficking, with plans to repurpose these sites into quality shops, health centers, or cultural venues. (Source: Europe 1)
Establishing a municipal police training academy for initial and continuous education of officers. (Official candidate’s site: bournazel.paris)
Creating an agreement with the Ministries of the Armed Forces and the Interior to facilitate recruiting former military personnel, police officers, and gendarmes. (Official candidate’s site: bournazel.paris)
Integrating the 215 officers of the Paris Inter-Agency Surveillance Group (GPIS) into the municipal police to form a unified force. (Official candidate’s site: bournazel.paris)
Allowing municipal police access to surveillance cameras in common areas of social housing buildings. (Official candidate’s site: bournazel.paris)
Implementing a comprehensive public lighting plan, including smart lighting systems with presence detection. (Official candidate’s site: bournazel.paris)
Expanding on-demand stops in night buses to enhance passenger safety. (Official candidate’s site: bournazel.paris)
Creating joint patrols between municipal and national police in specific sectors such as Champ de Mars, Bois de Boulogne, and Bois de Vincennes. (Official candidate’s site: bournazel.paris)

Blandine Chauvel (NPA)

Rejecting a solely security-focused approach that emphasizes police action and repression against drug trafficking.
Criticism of politicians who mainly call for increased police numbers and stronger enforcement measures.
Questioning policies that target low-level street dealers rather than focusing on the top-tier drug traffickers.
Supporting efforts to go after the real masterminds behind trafficking, rather than targeting youths used as lookouts or small-time sellers.
Viewing drug trafficking as a “symptom” of a “diseased society,” rather than the root cause of violence.
Highlighting the role of social inequalities, unemployment, and the lack of prospects for youth in underprivileged neighborhoods in fueling the drug trade.
Condemning the abandonment of impoverished, neglected quartiers as a factor that allows the drug market to become firmly rooted.
Declaring that combatting drug trafficking must involve addressing social injustices, not just security measures.

(Source: official website)

Sophia Chikirou (La France Insoumise – Nouveau Paris Populaire)
Implement a municipal charter that strictly governs the actions of the city's police, banning any discriminatory practices or identity-based checks, and ensuring accountability, proper training, and clear channels for reporting misconduct and sanctions. (Source: official candidate website)
Introduce mobile legal assistance centers to facilitate complaints and provide legal support. (Source: official candidate website)
Engage in a robust institutional dialogue with the State to secure guarantees for citizens' rights. (Source: official candidate website)
Establish neighborhood hubs that bring together police officers, mediators, youth workers, and social workers within community centers. (Source: official candidate website)
Increase the number of municipal police officers to around 3,500. (Source: official candidate website)
Create new ranks and pay scales for the police, with improved salary grids and bonuses.
Oppose the provision of lethal weapons to municipal police forces. (Source: official candidate website)
Aim to double the number of specialized youth workers by 2029 to enhance mediation and prevention efforts in neighborhoods. (Source: official candidate website)
Negotiate with the police prefect to revise crowd control policies, prioritizing de-escalation over repressive tactics. (Source: official candidate website)

Rachida Dati (The Republicans/Modem/UDI)

Build a force of 5,000 armed and trained municipal police officers dedicated to fighting everyday crime, doubling the current numbers. (Source: official candidate website)
Maintain a police presence around the clock throughout the city with these armed municipal officers. (Source: official candidate website)
Deploy 8,000 video surveillance cameras to enhance street monitoring, especially around schools, middle schools, and sports grounds. (Source: official candidate website)
Close off the Champ‑de‑Mars at night with fencing, a measure aimed at preventing assaults and illegal activities in the area. (Source: Le Parisien)
Create a dedicated mounted police unit to oversee security at the Champ‑de‑Mars and in the Bois de Boulogne and Vincennes forests, with a comprehensive green space safety plan that also includes cameras and improved lighting. (Sources: Le Parisien and Le JDD)
Implement specialized measures to monitor and secure schools, including cameras and increased presence. (Source: official candidate website)
Expand the authority of municipal police to include identity checks, access to national databases, tackling petty offenses, and managing minor disturbances. (Source: Le JDD)
Establish municipal safety patrols in middle schools, composed of civilian staff focused on preventing harassment and fights. (Source: Le JDD)
Set up a Urban Supervision Center (CSU) in each district to centralize camera footage and enhance response times. (Source: Le Journal du Grand Paris)
Implement stricter penalties for deliberate vandalism to the city, addressing security and public order concerns. (Source: Le Journal du Grand Paris)

Emmanuel Grégoire (Left-wing Union: PS – Socialist Party, PCF, Green Parties, Place publique, L’Après)

Increase the presence of municipal police 24/7 in all neighborhoods, going beyond the installation of mobile police kiosks inspired by Japanese kôban. These kiosks will be placed in each district and at the city's "hotspots." (Source: Le Parisien + official candidate site)
Hire an additional 1,000 municipal officers to bring totals up to around 5,000 police agents. (Source: Le Parisien)
Enhance street lighting in certain neighborhoods to improve residents' sense of safety, especially to ensure all women can move freely at all hours. (Source: Le Parisien)
Install emergency buttons at bus shelters and within a broader range of security measures to make incident reporting easier and enhance overall security. (Source: Le Parisien and official candidate site)
Expand video surveillance in sensitive locations by deploying up to 500 additional tactical cameras. (Source: Le Parisien)
Establish a dedicated "specialized unit for complex sites," operational in key strategic locations such as Champ de Mars, Montmartre, and the Rosa Parks district. (Source: Le Parisien)
Create specialized municipal police units, including:
- Anti-social behavior squads
- Mobile patrol units
- Nighttime patrols
- Equestrian units
- Teams dedicated to complex sites
  (Source: official candidate site)

Prioritizing the fight against gender-based and sexual violence in public spaces to make the city safer for all women. (Source: official candidate site)
An improved public lighting plan developed in consultation with women to enhance safety, especially at night in public areas. (Source: official candidate site)
A network of "safe places" where individuals can seek refuge in case of distress or violence in public spaces. (Source: official candidate site)
Enhanced coordination between the municipal police, social workers, and healthcare professionals to handle complex situations such as drug abuse and mental health issues—combining prevention, support, and targeted enforcement. (Source: official candidate site)
A clear and strict partnership with the State and the police prefecture aimed at removing obstacles that hinder municipal police action and ensuring the police nationale actively fights crime and drug trafficking. (Source: official candidate site)
Creation of bicycle patrol units within the municipal police dedicated to addressing traffic violations. (Source: official candidate site)
Implementation of a "Zero Deaths, Zero Serious Injuries" road safety plan, including:
- new speed cameras on accident-prone roads,
- expanding automated traffic enforcement. (Source: official candidate site)
Specialized training for municipal police to combat discrimination and sexism, complemented by a structured plan to address street harassment (beyond political promises). (Source: official candidate site)
Increased police presence at festivals and large gatherings, in addition to a 24/7 deployment. (Source: official candidate site)
Deployment of mediators in each school and sports facility to prevent conflicts, violence, drug abuse, and harassment. (Source: official candidate site)
An explicit commitment to a "better-equipped" municipal police force, without lethal weapons. (Source: official candidate site)

Sarah Knafo (Reconquête)

Doubling of the municipal police force to reach 8,000 officers.
Arming of municipal police.
Implementation of a policy for systematic arrests and citations of crimes within municipal jurisdiction.
Deployment of artificial intelligence technologies for analyzing video surveillance footage.
Creation of a mounted municipal patrol unit.
Establishment of a municipal dog patrol unit.
Enhanced and constant police presence in neighborhoods identified as sensitive or lawless zones.
Reclaiming key tourist areas (Champ-de-Mars, Trocadéro, Montmartre) through continuous patrols.
Strengthened security at Parisian train stations.
Installation of smart streetlights equipped with anti-aggression sensors.
Maintaining continuous public lighting at night, with adjustable brightness levels.
Allowing nighttime illumination of shop windows.
Increased police presence on public transportation, in coordination with the Regional authorities.
Eviction of illegal occupiers of municipal properties.
Withdrawal of municipal subsidies to facilities hosting illegal migrants.
Strict enforcement of municipal controls over accreditation procedures for short-term visas, visitor stays, and family reunification, within the mayor’s jurisdiction.

(Source: official candidate’s website)

Thierry Mariani (National Rally - UDR)

Increase the number of municipal police officers and step up patrols to ensure 24/7 visibility in the city. (Source: official candidate website)
Establish specialized units to tackle various security issues: anti- squat squads, anti-drug teams, crackdown on illegal encampments, transport and traffic enforcement, Rapid Action Brigade (BAR), and neighborhood police. (Source: official candidate website)
Enforce zero tolerance for drug trafficking, public nuisances, and safety threats in public spaces. (Source: official candidate website)
Reject mass immigration, dismantle clandestine camps, prevent unauthorized occupations, and halt requisitions for undocumented migrants. (Source: official candidate website)
Double the size of the municipal police force and equip officers with weapons to better prevent violence, theft, and assaults—including on public transit. (Source: official candidate website). According to the full program, approximately 8,350 officers are planned.
Tripling the city’s CCTV network to around 15,000 cameras across the capital, enhancing surveillance in public areas. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Guarantee a strong, ongoing police presence in key areas such as metro, tram, and bus stations, wooded zones (Boulogne & Vincennes), and lively nightlife streets to prevent fights and assaults. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Create an emergency anti-squat unit that can respond within 24 to 48 hours with a dedicated hotline, for rapid intervention against illegal occupations. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Abolish drug consumption rooms (“shooting galleries”) and set up a centralized facility to treat drug addiction, in coordination with efforts to combat trafficking. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Develop Priority Security Zones (ZSP) equipped with municipal police posts and mobile units to facilitate local interventions. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Enhance municipal police powers, including expanded authority in prevention and law enforcement at the local level. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Install panic buttons in schools, nurseries, and stores to enable rapid alerting of police or district stations in emergencies. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Implement the “polluter pays” principle, requiring those responsible for damage to public property to bear the repair costs. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Eliminate municipal benefits for families with members convicted of crimes and consider evicting residents of social housing when recidivism occurs. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)
Increase security checks in businesses at risk of laundering drug money and take measures against vandalism and graffiti. (Source: candidate's detailed plan)

Marielle Saulnier (Worker’s Struggle)

As of February 26, 2026, there are still no concrete proposals or measures specifically dedicated to security on the candidate's official website.

All that's left is to go through these suggestions for the upcoming municipal elections!

To help you better understand the key issues concerning Paris's city management ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, we've put together a comprehensive overview by topic. You can find all these themes summarized below!

2026 Paris Municipal Elections: Candidate Program Proposals by Theme
The municipal elections are just around the corner, and you're eager to learn more about the candidates’ platforms for the Paris city hall? We've got you covered. Explore their proposals by theme—security, housing, environment, education, culture—and see where each candidate stands! [Read more]