Tell us about the start of the official campaign for the European elections

The start of the official campaign for the European elections on June 9 begins Monday May 27. The main change is that you will see the candidates more often on television or hear them more often on the radio. With the start of the official campaign, public broadcasting is required to broadcast the candidates’ campaign clips.

Concretely, the 38 lists running in the European elections all recorded a spot of maximum three minutes. Over the next two weeks, you will see these clips on television or hear them on the radio. Their broadcast was validated by Arcom, the audiovisual police, which even drew lots for the order in which these campaign spots appeared.

Unlike the presidential election, where there is strict equality of speaking time between the candidates, for the European elections, Arcom sticks to a principle of fairness. Since mid-April, TV and radio channels have had to count the speaking time of the different lists while respecting several criteria. For example, longer airtime is granted to candidates officially supported by elected officials (deputies, MEPs or senators).

The results of the last elections and the weight of the lists in the polls are also taken into account. This means that, during the campaign, we hear more from the main parties than the lists which represent more confidential political movements.

The start of the official campaign also marks other changes. From today, signs will be installed in the streets for candidates to post their posters. You can also find their programs online. The professions of faith of the 38 lists are all published this morning on a dedicated website of the Ministry of the Interior: programme-candidats.interieur.gouv.fr.