in the European Union in 2007, the number of seats allocated to France was revised from 78 seats to 72 seats, a loss of 6 seats. France now represents only 9.8% of all European MEPs compared to 12.5% in 2004 and 19.8% in 1979, following the
The turnout in European elections in France has almost always declined, with the sole exception of an increase in 1994, falling from 60.7% turnout in the 1979 election to 43.1% in the latest election in 2004.
(UMP) won a pleasing result, the first time the presidential party had won since the first European elections in 1979. Compared to the party's disastrous 2004 result, it gained 12 seats and over 11% in the popular vote. However, many have said that the UMP is the only governing party in France, making its position very weak compared to the combined opposition.
, won a very bad result: only 16.48% and suffering a loss of 17 seats. Prominent Socialist MEPs, including defeated leadership candidate
, lost their seats. The Socialists lost most votes in middle-class urban areas, while holding their ground better in their rural strongholds.
was the surprise of these elections, with a remarkable 16.28% and the same number of MEPs as the Socialist Party. The green coalition's result was the best result ever for any French Green party, beating out the previous record set by
in the 1989 European elections – 10.59%. The gains made by the Greens also came from the centrist
. The MoDem won only 8.45%, a surprisingly low result for the centrist party, thought to be France's third party.
The far-right FN suffered loses, being reduced to only 3 MEPs. The conservative nationalist
, but also including the smaller agrarian Hunting, Fishing, Nature, Tradition, suffered losses compared to the two parties' combined 8% showing in 2004. De Villiers was re-elected, becoming the only
. The Left Front and an ally overseas won 6.47% and 5 seats, while Besancenot's NPA won only 4.88% and no seats (despite polling better on aggregate than Libertas, which did win a seat).
Top Candidates by Constituency
RegionMembers of the European Parliament are elected by the population of the member states of the European Union , divided into constituencies....
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UMPThe Union for a Popular Movement is a centre-right political party in France, and one of the two major contemporary political parties in the country along with the center-left Socialist Party...
-NCNew Centre , also known as the European Social Liberal Party is a centre-right political party in France, formed by the members of the Union for French Democracy – including a majority of former parliamentarians – who did not agree with François Bayrou's...
-LGMThe Modern Left , is a French centrist political party founded in 2007.The party was founded following the nomination of the former Socialist Senator and Mayor of Mulhouse, Jean-Marie Bockel to the François Fillon government in May 2007...
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PSThe Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
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MoDem The Democratic Movement , MoDem) is a centrist, social liberal and pro-European French political party that was founded by centrist politician François Bayrou to succeed his Union for French Democracy and to contest the 2007 legislative election, after his strong showing in the 2007 presidential...
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Europe ÉcologieEurope Écologie was a French electoral coalition created for the 2009 European elections composed of The Greens and other ecologists and regionalists....
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Left FrontThe Left Front is a French electoral coalition for the 2009 European elections composed primarily of the French Communist Party, the Left Party and the Unitarian Left...
(PCFThe French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
-PGThere are several socialist political parties with the name Left Party:* Estonian Left Party, in Estonian: Eesti Vasakpartei, 1990–2008* Estonian United Left Party in Estonian: Eestimaa Ühendatud Vasakpartei, formed in 2008...
-GUUnitarian Left is a political party in France which used to be one part of a faction within the Revolutionary Communist League...
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FNThe National Front is a political party in France. The party was founded in 1972, seeking to unify a variety of French far-right currents of the time. Jean-Marie Le Pen was the party's first leader and the undisputed centre of the party from its start until his resignation in 2011...
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MPFThe Movement for France , abbreviated to MPF, is a French conservative and eurosceptic political party, founded on 20 November 1994, with a marked regional stronghold in the Vendée. It is led by Philippe de Villiers, once communications minister under Jacques Chirac.The party is considered...
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PDF The Party of France is a far-right political party in France. The PDF was founded on February 23, 2009 by National Front MEP Carl Lang. Carl Lang was known for his opposition to Marine Le Pen's possible candidacy to the leadership of the FN upon retirement of its long-time leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen...
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| East In European elections, East France is a constituency of the European Parliament. It consists of the regions of Alsace, Bourgogne, Champagne-Ardenne, Franche-Comté and Lorraine-2009:-2004:...
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Joseph Daul Joseph Daul is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the East of France. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement , a member-party of the European People's Party...
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Catherine Trautmann Catherine Trautmann is a former Minister of Culture of France and now Member of the European Parliament for the East of France.She was elected as mayor of Strasbourg in 1989, re-elected in 1995, then defeated in 2001....
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Jean-François Kahn -Biography:Born in Viroflay, Yvelines, he is the brother of scientist Axel Kahn, and son of a Jewish father and a Catholic mother. Having obtained a degree in history, he started work at a postal sorting office, then at a printing works. He soon moved into journalism and was sent to cover the war...
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Sandrine Bélier Sandrine Bélier is a French environmental jurist, politician and Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the East constituency....
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Hélène Franco Hélène Franco is a French magistrate and politician. She is the general secretary of the Syndicat de la magistrature, the left-wing magistrates' labour union....
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Bruno Gollnisch Bruno Gollnisch is a French academic and politician, a member of the National Front far-right party, and a member of the European Parliament. He was chairman of the European Parliamentary group 'Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty' in 2007, which was dissolved in November 2007 following the...
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Christophe Beaudouin |
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| Île-de-France In European elections, Île-de-France is a constituency of the European Parliament. It consists of the region of Île-de-France.-2009:-2004:Brackets indicate the number of votes per seat won....
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Michel BarnierMichel Barnier is a French politician of the Union for a Popular Movement and Vice President of the European People's Party . He is the current European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services...
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Harlem Désir Harlem Désir is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Île-de-France since 1999. He is a member of the Socialist Party, part of the Party of European Socialists....
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Marielle de Sarnez Marielle de Sarnez is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Île-de-France. She is a member of the MoDem, vice-chair of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education.She is also substitute for...
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Daniel Cohn-BenditDaniel Marc Cohn-Bendit is a Franco-German politician, active in both countries. He was a student leader during the unrest of May 1968 in France and he was also known during that time as Dany le Rouge...
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Patrick Le Hyaric Patrick Le Hyaric is a French journalist, politician and Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the Île-de-France constituency...
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Jean-Michel Dubois Jean-Michel Dubois is a French politician and a member of the far-right FN. He was a member of the Gaullist Rally for the Republic until 1985....
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Jérôme Rivière Jérôme Rivière is a French politician. and now lawyer member of the Paris Bar Association since 2006...
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Jean-Pierre Audy Jean-Pierre Audy is a French politician and a Member of the European Parliament for France. He is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement , which is part of the European People's Party...
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Henri Weber Henri Weber is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the north-west of France. He is a member of the Socialist Party , which is part of the Party of European Socialists, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education.Weber was born in Leninabad,...
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Jean-Marie Beaupuy Jean-Marie Beaupuy is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the east of France. He is a member of the Union for French Democracy, which is part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Regional Development.He...
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Jean-Paul Besset Jean-Paul Besset is a French politician and environmentalist.An original member of the Revolutionary Communist League , he stayed in the LCR for eleven years, from its launch in 1974 until 1985....
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Marie-France Beaufils Marie-France Beaufils is a member of the Senate of France, representing the Indre-et-Loire department. She is a member of the Communist, Republican, and Citizen Group.-References:*...
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Patrick Bourson Patrick Bourson is a French politician and a member of the far-right FN led by Jean-Marie Le Pen.In 2009, the FN selected him to lead the FN list in the Massif Central constituency ahead of the 2009 European elections.-References:...
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Véronique Goncalvès |
Jean Verdon |
| North-West In European elections, North-West France is a constituency of the European Parliament. It consists of the regions of Basse-Normandie, Haute-Normandie, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardie-2009:-2004:...
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Dominique Riquet Dominique Riquet is a French politician who is a Christian Democrat Member of the European Parliament and mayor of Valenciennes elected in the 2009 European election for the North-West constituency...
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Gilles Pargneaux Gilles Pargneaux is a French politician, Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the North-West constituency and leader of the PS federation in Lille...
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Corinne Lepage Corinne Dominique Marguerite Lepage, also known as Corinne Lepage is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the North-West constituency....
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Hélène Flautre Hélène Flautre is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the North West of France. She is a member of the French Green Party, part of the European Greens. She was first elected in 1999.-References:...
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Jacky Hénin Jacky Hénin is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the north-west of France. He is a member of the French Communist Party, which is part of the European United Left–Nordic Green Left group, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade.He is also...
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Marine Le Pen Marine Le Pen is a French politician, a lawyer by profession and the president of the Front National since 16 January 2011...
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Frédéric Nihous Frédéric Nihous is a French politician from the Hunting, Fishing, Nature, Traditions party. He was a candidate for the 2007 French presidential election, but was eliminated in the first round of balloting...
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Carl Lang Carl Lang is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the north-west of France. He was member of the National Front from 1978 to 2008; he is currently president and co-founder of the Party of France...
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| Overseas In European elections, Overseas Territories of France is a constituency of the European Parliament. It consists of the French overseas departments and territories.-2009:-2004:-External links:*...
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Marie-Luce Penchard Marie-Luce Penchard is a French politician from Guadeloupe and member of the UMP. She is the daughter of Lucette Michaux-Chevry, the historical leader of the right in Guadeloupe....
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Ericka Bareigts Ericka Bareigts is a French politician and member of the Parti Socialiste .In 2009, the PS selected her to lead the PS list in the DOM-TOM constituency ahead of the 2009 European elections.-References:...
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Harry Durimel Harry Durimel is a founding member and spokesperson of The Greens on Guadeloupe. A lawyer, Durimel obtained a Masters in Labor Law from University Paris I-Pantheon-Sorbonne....
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Alliance of the Overseas The Alliance of the Overseas was a French electoral coalition for the 2009 European elections in the Overseas constituency composed of left-wing overseas parties...
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| South-East In European elections, South-East France is a constituency of the European Parliament. It consists of the regions of Corsica, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur and Rhône-Alpes.-2009:-2004:-External links:* *...
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Françoise Grossetête Françoise Grossetête is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the South-East of France. She is a member of the Union for a Popular Movement; part of the European People's Party.-Member:...
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Vincent Peillon Vincent Benoît Camille Peillon is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the north-west of France...
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Jean-Luc BennahmiasJean-Luc Bennahmias is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the south-east of France. He is a member of the Democratic Movement , and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs.He is also a substitute for the Committee on Culture and...
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Michèle RivasiMichèle Rivasi is Member of the European Parliament, representing South East France for The Greens....
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Marie-Christine Vergiat Marie-Christine Vergiat is a community organizations' activist and a French politician. As of June 2009, she is a Member of the European Parliament representing the Left Front. She is the companion of Jean-Pierre Dubois, president of the French Human Rights League, with whom she has a son...
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Jean-Marie Le PenJean-Marie Le Pen is a French far right-wing and nationalist politician who is founder and former president of the Front National party. Le Pen has run for the French presidency five times, most notably in 2002, when in a surprise upset he came second, polling more votes in the first round than...
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Patrick Louis Patrick Louis is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the south-east of France...
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| South-West In European elections, South-West France is a constituency of the European Parliament. It consists of the regions of Aquitaine, Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées.-2009:-2004:...
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Dominique Baudis Dominique Baudis is the French ombudsman. Formerly a journalist, politician and Mayor of Toulouse, he had been a member of DL and later of the leading centre-right Union for a Popular Movement....
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Kader Arif Kader Arif, is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the south-west of France. He is a member of the Socialist Party, which is part of the Party of European Socialists, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on International Trade.He is also a substitute for the...
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Robert Rochefort Robert Rochefort is a French economist and politician.In 2009, he joined the MoDem and was selected to lead the MoDem list in the South-West constituency ahead of the 2009 European elections. He was the MoDem's only elected Member of the European Parliament in that region.-References:...
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José Bové Joseph Bové is a French farmer and syndicalist, member of the alter-globalization movement, and spokesman for Via Campesina. He was one of the twelve official candidates in the 2007 French presidential election...
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Jean-Luc Mélenchon Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a French politician who served in the government of France as Minister of Vocational Education from 2000 to 2002. He was also a member of the Senate of France, representing the Essonne department...
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Louis Aliot Born on 4 September 1969 at Ax-les-Thermes , Louis Aliot is a French politician, a lawyer by profession and a vice-president of the Front National since 16 January 2011...
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Eddie Puyjalon Eddie Puyjalon is a French politician and a prominent member of the right-wing agrarian Hunting, Fishing, Nature, Traditions party.In 2009, the CPNT-Libertas selected her to lead the Libertas list in the South-West France constituency ahead of the 2009 European elections.-References:...
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Jean-Claude Martinez Jean-Claude Martinez is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the south-west of France. He was a member of the Front National, and was among the Non-Inscrits until the 2007 formation of the Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty Group in the European Parliament...
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| West West France is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 10 MEPs. It includes the French regions of Brittany, Pays de la Loire, and Poitou-Charentes.-2009:-2004:...
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Christophe Béchu Christophe Béchu is a French politician, President of the General Council of the Maine-et-Loire department since 2004 and Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election to 2011 for the West France constituency...
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Bernadette Vergnaud Bernadette Vergnaud is a French politician and Member of the European Parliament for the west of France...
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Sylvie Goulard Sylvie Goulard is a French politician. She was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the West region of France in the 2009 European elections. As an MEP she is a member of the Committee for Economic and Monetary Affairs, and ALDE group coordinator, as well as a substitute member of...
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Yannick Jadot Yannick Jadot is a French environmentalist and Member of the European Parliament elected in the 2009 European election for the West France constituency....
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Jacques Généreux Jacques Généreux is a French economist and politician. He is a reader of economics at the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris....
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Brigitte Neveux Brigitte Neveux is a French politician and a member of the far-right FN.In the 2004 regional elections, she led the FN list in Brittany and obtained 8.47% of the votes in the first round, below the 10% threshold for a place in the runoff...
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Philippe de Villiers Viscount Philippe Le Jolis de Villiers de Saintignon, known as Philippe de Villiers, born on 25 March 1949, is a French politician. He was the Mouvement pour la France nominee for the French presidential election of 2007. He received 2.23% of the vote, putting him in sixth place. As only the top...
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