French Election System

French Elections: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding the Electoral Process

France's National Assembly, consisting of 577 seats, is filled through a complex electoral process. For both the presidential and legislative elections, a single official is elected for each area. Unlike European elections, which follow a proportional voting system, French presidential and legislative elections utilize a two-round system.

First Round

In the first round, all candidates who have met certain criteria compete for votes. If a candidate receives an absolute majority (more than 50% of the votes), they are elected outright. However, if no candidate achieves this threshold, a second round is held.

Second Round

The second round features the top two candidates from the first round. Voters must choose between these two candidates, and the candidate with the most votes wins the election. This system ensures that the elected official has a strong mandate from the voters.