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The European elections
This sheet explains what the European elections are for. It also explains who can vote and who can be a candidate.
Key points of the sheet
- The European elections take place every five years. Citizens of the European Union elect the members of the European Parliament.
- These members are called European MPs (députés européens, or eurodéputés). Their number per State depends on the country's population.
- Since the 2024 elections, France has 81 European MPs.
- Voters vote for lists of political parties. They do not vote for single candidates.
- To vote in France, you must have the nationality of a European Union country and live in France. You must also be at least 18 the day before the 1st round.
- To vote, you must also be registered on the French electoral lists.
- To be a candidate in France, the same conditions of nationality, residence and age apply. You must not be deprived of your civil and political rights.
Words to know
- European Parliament (Parlement européen)
- Its members are elected by citizens of the European Union in the European elections.
- European MPs (eurodéputés)
- They are the members of the European Parliament, and their number per State depends on the population.
- lists of political parties (listes de partis politiques)
- In the European elections, voters vote for these lists, not for single candidates.
- French electoral lists (listes électorales françaises)
- You must be registered on these lists to vote in France in the European elections.
- civil and political rights (droits civils et politiques)
- To be a candidate, you must not be deprived of these rights.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Since 2024, how many European MPs does France have?
In French, the language of the exam: Depuis 2024, combien d'eurodéputés compte la France ?
Since the 2024 elections, France has 81 European MPs.
In the European elections, what do voters vote for?
In French, the language of the exam: Aux élections européennes, pour quoi votent les électeurs ?
Voters vote for lists of political parties, not for single candidates.
What condition is needed to be a candidate in the European elections in France?
In French, the language of the exam: Quelle condition faut-il pour être candidat aux élections européennes en France ?
To be a candidate in France, you must not be deprived of your civil and political rights.
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Source
Sheet “Les élections européennes” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.