Particularly popular places. Just over a month before the European elections, the campaign is intensifying. The candidates are increasing their trips to the field, debates and media appearances. Designated head of list by their party, Jordan Bardella (RN), Valérie Hayer (Renaissance), Raphaël Glucksmann (PS) and the others are on the front line in this electoral battle. But many other names will complete the lists presented for the European election on June 9. Why aren’t they all known yet? We’ll explain it to you.
A deadline set in May
Each political party is required to present a parity list (alternating a candidate of each gender) of 81 names, i.e. the number of French seats in the next European Parliament. And although the campaign is in full swing in the media and on the ground, it will not be officially opened until… May 27, less than two weeks before the vote.
The groups therefore still have a little time to refine the composition of their list, which must be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior ten days earlier, i.e. by May 17 at the latest.
Negotiations still in progress
Some parties, such as La France insoumise, the Socialist Party, EELV or the Communist Party, did not wait and already revealed their 81 candidates. But among the Republicans, at Reconquest or at the National Rally, we only know a very small part of it. This ignition delay is explained by the dreaded internal negotiations. “I asked to be on the list, we will see if I have the honor of being there, you have to be patient…”, smiles an RN executive, still waiting.
The battles are often tough within parties, which must satisfy outgoing MEPs and ambitious new ones. “Creating a list is alchemy. But it’s easier to have 30 eligible places to offer than a handful…”, mocks another RN elected official, targeting the rival Reconquest. “Normally I will be 6th, but nothing has been decided yet…” whispers a member of Eric Zemmour’s party.
For the presidential camp, only the name of Valérie Hayer has been made official… Emmanuel Macron has a lot to do because he has to deal with all the parties of his majority (Renaissance, Horizons, MoDem) but also the UDI (Union of Democrats and independents), who could join this European coalition.
Make media stunts
Some parties choose to do “media stunts” by listing the names of recruits over the weeks. This is the case of the right, which staged the rallying of the farmer Céline Imart, in second position behind François-Xavier Bellamy, and of general Christophe Gomart in number 3.
Same strategy for the National Rally, which revealed “openness” profiles throughout the campaign: the former Sarkozyist Malika Sorel (2nd position), the former boss of Frontex Fabrice Leggeri (3rd) and Matthieu Valet, the police unionist media (7th). “We have often been accused of being the only ones to govern, we are showing that this is not the case,” defends a close friend of Jordan Bardella. And to promise “another surprise”, before the unveiling of the complete list, during a big meeting, on May 1st.