In France, regional elections make it possible to elect regional councils. Since 1986, they have been held by universal suffrage and, since the 2004 elections, in a two-round proportional system with a majority bonus.
For the regional elections tomorrow, this report provides an update on the election instructions. Commentary on polling station illustration images and infographic images.
Meeting with voters who came to vote at the regional elections: this is the first time that the French have gone to the polls to elect the candidates of the 13 new regions instead of 22. Commentary on factual images alternating with the interviews of voters from different places in France.
The UMP deputies decided to "bow down" to the decision of the Constitutional Council on regional issues and to accept the 10% threshold proposed by Jean-Pierre Raffarin. Reactions of Jacques BARROT, President of the UMP Group at the Assembly, François BAYROU, President of the UDF and François HOLLANDE, First Secretary of the PS.
The National Assembly adopted the bill reforming the regional elections. It provides stable majorities in regional councils. The reform will come into force for the next regional elections in 2004. Explanations and reactions with the interviews of Joseph KERGUERIS, regional advisor UDF, and Je-Yves LE DRIAN, regional advisor PS.
Microtrottoir in Brittany on the regional election of March 16: some confusion seems to reign on the subject of this election and the role of the soon-to-be-elected councillors.
The President of the Republic François Mitterrand defends the choice to have set the new regional elections on the same day as the vote in the general elections, namely on 16 March. Even if there is still confusion in the minds of the voters, pooling the two ballots would, according to him, encourage voters to go to the polls, and therefore limit abstention for the election of regional councillors.