How the French elections work - Briefly

French elections, particularly for the presidency and the legislature, operate within a semi-presidential system. Here's an overview of how they work:

Presidential Elections

1. Frequency: Every five years.

2. System: Two-round system.

• First Round: All candidates who have secured the endorsement of at least 500 elected officials (mayors, parliamentarians, etc.) participate. If no candidate receives an absolute majority (over 50%) of the votes, the election goes to a second round.

• Second Round: The top two candidates from the first round face off. The candidate who receives the most votes in the second round wins the presidency.

1. Eligibility: Candidates must be French citizens, at least 18 years old, and must secure endorsements from at least 500 elected officials from at least 30 different departments or overseas territories, with no more than 10% of the endorsements coming from any single department.

Legislative Elections

1. Frequency: Every five years, typically a few weeks after the presidential election.

2. System: Two-round system for electing members of the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale).

• First Round: Candidates compete in 577 constituencies. If a candidate receives an absolute majority (more than 50% of the vote) and at least 25% of registered voters' support, they are elected outright.

• Second Round: If no candidate meets the criteria in the first round, the top two candidates proceed to the second round, along with any other candidate who received at least 12.5% of the registered voters' support. The candidate with the most votes in the second round wins.

1. Eligibility: Candidates must be French citizens, at least 18 years old, and meet certain legal requirements (e.g., no serious criminal convictions).

Other Elections

• European Parliament Elections: Held every five years to elect members to the European Parliament.

• Regional and Departmental Elections: Held every six years to elect members to regional and departmental councils.

• Municipal Elections: Held every six years to elect mayors and municipal councilors.

Voting Requirements

• Eligibility: Voters must be French citizens, at least 18 years old, and registered on the electoral roll.

• Absentee Voting: Allowed through proxy voting. Overseas French citizens can vote in French embassies or consulates.

Campaign Regulations

• Campaign Period: Official campaign periods are regulated, with strict rules on spending, media access, and advertising.

• Spending Limits: There are limits on how much candidates can spend on their campaigns, with public funding available for parties and candidates meeting certain criteria.

• Media Access: Equal airtime rules apply during the official campaign period to ensure all candidates receive fair media coverage.

French elections are characterized by their two-round systems, designed to ensure broad support for elected officials, and their regulated campaign environments aimed at maintaining fairness and transparency.