Why is commerce the top issue for the 2026 municipals?
After 15 years of rising commercial vacancy, French downtowns have become the visible symbol of territorial decline. Candidates in the 2026 municipals must answer a strong voter demand: bring the main street back to life. Polls rank commerce first among local concerns, ahead of security and mobility.
What does the Confederation of French Merchants propose?
The CDF published a 2026 municipal elections White Paper with four axes: reduce commercial vacancy (via ZRCV and rent oversight), encourage soft mobility (targeted pedestrianization), animate downtowns (events, markets) and reinforce security (police presence, lighting). Available on the CDF website.
How does COLHYBRI help a candidate build a program?
COLHYBRI provides candidates with an objective diagnosis of downtown commercial vitality: vacancy rate, average Score Maps, incomplete Google listings, shops without recent reviews. The free 90-day pilot lets candidates present a concrete action plan with before/after metrics.