France's centre-left urged to reopen 'bars-tabacs' to counter far-right vote

A study by Cepremap found that 18,000 bars-tabacs (bars selling tobacco and scratch cards) closed in France between 2002 and 2022, correlating with increased votes for the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) led by Jordan Bardella. The effect was reversible: where bars reopened, RN votes decreased. With the 2027 presidential election approaching (first round mid-April, second early May 2027), and the RN already gaining in March 2026 local elections, the author argues that reopening these social hubs could reduce isolation and far-right support. Friends from Gard, Pas-de-Calais, and Lozère—regions where Marine Le Pen won majorities in 2022—reported that bars-tabacs are often the only social spaces in rural areas. One friend in Lozère saw bars drop from 15 to one since the 1960s. The article suggests that centre-left parties should court this demographic, as the RN has weaponized the closures using the slogan 'La France des oubliés'.