The debate was revived this summer by the law proposal of the deputy of the presidential majority Sacha Houlié, in favor of the establishment of the right to vote in local elections for foreigners who do not belong to the European Union. On the left, the socialist mayor of Dijon François Rebsamen is in favor of this proposal, before adding this: “There are a good ten European countries which have given the right to vote in local elections to foreigners who are in a regular situation.“. It’s almost true and we explain why.
The countries which have granted the right to vote to foreigners are more numerous than one “good ten”: they are fourteen in number, out of 27 members of the EU, with different rules.
Ireland is the country that has gone furthest in granting foreigners the right to vote in 1963, before anyone else. Moreover, for 30 years, there is no longer a minimum length of stay to be able to vote. Finally, foreigners are also eligible in Ireland.
Most countries that have granted this right to vote have done so under conditions, often with a minimum length of stay of several years, between two and five years. This is the case of the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Finland and Denmark) of two Baltic countries (Estonia and Lithuania). But also former Eastern bloc countries (Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia). And also old countries of the European Union, the Benelux countries (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg).
Spain and Portugal are more restrictive and grant the right to vote to nationals of certain countries, in particular their former colonies, subject to reciprocity and length of residence.
Finally, there are countries where non-EU foreigners cannot vote. Three founding countries of Europe, which are also the most populous: Germany, France and Italy. There are also Austria, Greece, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Cyprus and Malta.
How can everyone be better informed?
Participate in the consultation initiated as part of the European project De facto on the Make.org platform. Franceinfo is the partner