François Bayrou, a prominent and long-standing ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, saw his ambitions for Pau thwarted during the 2026 municipal elections. What has been widely described as his “interminable fall” culminated on the evening of the first round, March 15, 2026, when he was narrowly defeated by the Socialist Party by a mere 344 votes.
Throughout his electoral campaign, Bayrou had passionately advocated for the continuation of what he termed the city’s “metamorphosis.” He had envisioned further transforming Pau, a project he had heavily promoted, but the ballot boxes delivered a different outcome, marking a significant turning point for the city’s political landscape.