Data / Presidential elections

    2012

    France voted.

    2012 French presidential election results

    View results
    01

    Round 1

    How it works +

    A national presidential vote

    A candidate needs an absolute majority of valid candidate votes to win in the first round. Otherwise the leading two candidates may contest a runoff two weeks later. This is not a party primary.

    Who could run in 2012?

    The minimum candidacy age was 18. Candidates had to be French and meet the voting-rights and eligibility requirements then in force. Party membership was not required.

    Ballot access required 500 endorsements from authorized elected officials across at least 30 departments or equivalent territories. No more than 50 of the required endorsements could come from one territory. These were not signatures from ordinary voters.

    The Constitutional Council checked the candidate list and election results. Disclosure and administrative requirements have changed over time; current forms should not be projected unchanged onto a historical election.

    Official account of the historical endorsement rules ↗

    22 April 2012

    What do shares of registered voters mean?

    The usual share divides a candidate’s votes by valid candidate votes. Registered-voter mode divides that same count by everyone registered, including abstainers and people casting a vote blanc or an invalid ballot.

    Example: 30 out of 60 valid votes is 50%. If 100 people were registered, those same 30 votes are 30% of the electorate. The count and legal outcome are unchanged.

    Click a candidate row or bar to open context. All bars use a 0–100% scale. Candidate percentages use valid candidate votes.

    François HollandeParti socialisteQualified for runoff28.63%10,272,705 votesExplore +

    François Hollande

    Historical ticket: Parti socialiste.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    PS succeeded SFIO in 1969. Mitterrand’s 1974 candidacy had broader Union of the Left support. Candidate totals cannot be separated into the votes of each supporting party. The 1965 Mitterrand entry is a CIR-led candidacy backed by SFIO and PCF, not a result for a PS organization that did not yet exist. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Parti socialiste / SFIO predecessor. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    No active same-person 2027 profile is linked here. This does not imply that the party has no 2027 contender.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Parti socialiste / SFIO predecessor · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    Ségolène Royal · Parti socialiste

    25.87%

    46.94%

    2002 ↗

    Lionel Jospin · Parti socialiste

    16.18%

    Not in runoff

    1995 ↗

    Lionel Jospin · Parti socialiste

    23.30%

    47.36%

    1988 ↗

    François Mitterrand · Parti socialiste

    34.11%

    54.02%

    1981 ↗

    François Mitterrand · Parti socialiste

    25.85%

    51.76%

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Nicolas SarkozyUnion pour un mouvement populaireQualified for runoff27.18%9,753,629 votesExplore +

    Nicolas Sarkozy

    Historical ticket: Union pour un mouvement populaire.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    UMP was renamed Les Républicains in 2015. UMP was formed in 2002 from RPR and other organizations: earlier RPR and UDR entries are predecessor-lineage comparisons, not an unchanged party. The earlier Gaullist series also includes UNR–UDT in 1965 and UNR support in 1958. These are labelled predecessor organizations, not LR under its present name. Rival RPR members Chirac and Balladur are listed separately in 1995, never added together. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Les Républicains / UMP / RPR / UDR. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    No active same-person 2027 profile is linked here. This does not imply that the party has no 2027 contender.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Les Républicains / UMP / RPR / UDR · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    Nicolas Sarkozy · Union pour un mouvement populaire

    31.18%

    53.06%

    2002 ↗

    Jacques Chirac · Rassemblement pour la République

    19.88%

    82.21%

    1995 ↗

    Jacques Chirac · Rassemblement pour la République, Chirac candidacy

    Édouard Balladur · RPR member, rival candidacy supported by UDF

    20.84%

    18.58%

    52.64%

    Not in runoff

    1988 ↗

    Jacques Chirac · Rassemblement pour la République

    19.96%

    45.98%

    1981 ↗

    Jacques Chirac · Rassemblement pour la République

    18.00%

    Not in runoff

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Marine Le PenFront national17.90%6,421,426 votesExplore +

    Marine Le Pen

    Historical ticket: Front national.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    Front national was renamed Rassemblement national in 2018. These are the same party across a change of name. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Rassemblement national (formerly FN). The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Rassemblement national (formerly FN) · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    Jean-Marie Le Pen · Front national

    10.44%

    Not in runoff

    2002 ↗

    Jean-Marie Le Pen · Front national

    16.86%

    17.79%

    1995 ↗

    Jean-Marie Le Pen · Front national

    15.00%

    Not in runoff

    1988 ↗

    Jean-Marie Le Pen · Front national

    14.38%

    Not in runoff

    1981 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Jean-Luc MélenchonFront de gauche coalition11.10%3,984,822 votesExplore +

    Jean-Luc Mélenchon

    Historical ticket: Front de gauche coalition.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    LFI was founded in 2016. Mélenchon’s 2012 Front de gauche candidacy is a coalition predecessor comparison, not a result earned by LFI itself. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: La France insoumise / Front de gauche comparison. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    La France insoumise / Front de gauche comparison · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    2002 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1995 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1988 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1981 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    François BayrouMouvement démocrate9.13%3,275,122 votesExplore +

    François Bayrou

    Historical ticket: Mouvement démocrate.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    Bayrou ran under UDF in 2002 and 2007 and MoDem in 2012. Giscard’s earlier Independent Republicans and Poher’s Centre démocrate are centrist-family comparisons, not MoDem results. The 1965 Lecanuet entry belongs to MRP. MRP, Centre démocrate, Independent Republicans, UDF and MoDem entries are labelled centrist-family comparisons, not an unchanged single party. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: MoDem / UDF centrist comparison. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    No active same-person 2027 profile is linked here. This does not imply that the party has no 2027 contender.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    MoDem / UDF centrist comparison · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    François Bayrou · Union pour la démocratie française

    18.57%

    Not in runoff

    2002 ↗

    François Bayrou · Union pour la démocratie française

    6.84%

    Not in runoff

    1995 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1988 ↗

    Raymond Barre · Union pour la démocratie française

    16.54%

    Not in runoff

    1981 ↗

    Valéry Giscard d’Estaing · Union pour la démocratie française

    28.32%

    48.24%

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Eva JolyEurope Écologie Les Verts2.31%828,345 votesExplore +

    Eva Joly

    Historical ticket: Europe Écologie Les Verts.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    EELV became Les Écologistes in 2023 and incorporated Les Verts in 2010. Earlier independent ecologist candidacies are family comparisons, not results for the same organization. EELV supported Hamon in 2017 without its own candidate. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Les Écologistes / EELV / Les Verts. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    No active same-person 2027 profile is linked here. This does not imply that the party has no 2027 contender.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Les Écologistes / EELV / Les Verts · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    Dominique Voynet · Les Verts

    1.57%

    Not in runoff

    2002 ↗

    Noël Mamère · Les Verts

    5.25%

    Not in runoff

    1995 ↗

    Dominique Voynet · Les Verts

    3.32%

    Not in runoff

    1988 ↗

    Antoine Waechter · Les Verts

    3.78%

    Not in runoff

    1981 ↗

    Brice Lalonde · Independent ecologist candidacy

    3.88%

    Not in runoff

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Nicolas Dupont-AignanDebout la République1.79%643,907 votesExplore +

    Nicolas Dupont-Aignan

    Historical ticket: Debout la République.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    Debout la République was renamed Debout la France in 2014. It is not the same party as UMP/LR. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Debout la France / Debout la République. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Debout la France / Debout la République · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    2002 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1995 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1988 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1981 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Philippe PoutouNouveau Parti anticapitaliste1.15%411,160 votesExplore +

    Philippe Poutou

    Historical ticket: Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    NPA was founded in 2009, following the LCR. Earlier LCR candidacies are labelled predecessors. The later NPA split means these historical totals cannot automatically be credited to a single present-day successor. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: NPA / LCR predecessor. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    No active same-person 2027 profile is linked here. This does not imply that the party has no 2027 contender.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    NPA / LCR predecessor · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    Olivier Besancenot · Ligue communiste révolutionnaire

    4.08%

    Not in runoff

    2002 ↗

    Olivier Besancenot · Ligue communiste révolutionnaire

    4.25%

    Not in runoff

    1995 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1988 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1981 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Nathalie ArthaudLutte ouvrière0.56%202,548 votesExplore +

    Nathalie Arthaud

    Historical ticket: Lutte ouvrière.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    Arlette Laguiller and Nathalie Arthaud ran for Lutte ouvrière in different elections. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Lutte ouvrière. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Lutte ouvrière · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    Arlette Laguiller · Lutte ouvrière

    1.33%

    Not in runoff

    2002 ↗

    Arlette Laguiller · Lutte ouvrière

    5.72%

    Not in runoff

    1995 ↗

    Arlette Laguiller · Lutte ouvrière

    5.30%

    Not in runoff

    1988 ↗

    Arlette Laguiller · Lutte ouvrière

    1.99%

    Not in runoff

    1981 ↗

    Arlette Laguiller · Lutte ouvrière

    2.30%

    Not in runoff

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Jacques CheminadeSolidarité et Progrès0.25%89,545 votesExplore +

    Jacques Cheminade

    Historical ticket: Solidarité et Progrès.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    Cheminade ran for Fédération pour une nouvelle solidarité in 1995 and Solidarité et Progrès in later contests. This is a labelled organizational lineage. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Cheminade / Solidarité et Progrès. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    No active same-person 2027 profile is linked here. This does not imply that the party has no 2027 contender.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Cheminade / Solidarité et Progrès · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    2002 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1995 ↗

    Jacques Cheminade · Fédération pour une nouvelle solidarité

    0.28%

    Not in runoff

    1988 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——
    1981 ↗No separate entry in this party/lineage series——

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Turnoutof registered voters79.48%36,584,399
    Abstentionof registered voters20.52%9,444,143
    Votes blancs + invalid ballotsof ballots cast1.92%701,190
    Vote blanc: participating without choosing a candidate

    A vote blanc is an empty envelope or an envelope containing a blank ballot. It differs from abstention, because the voter participates, and from a vote nul, an invalid ballot.

    It can express “I came to vote, but I do not choose any of these candidates.” It is sometimes used as a protest, although the total cannot reveal every voter’s motive.

    Votes blancs count toward turnout, not valid candidate votes. Separate counting from invalid ballots began in 2014, so older elections show a combined total. They do not automatically cause another election.

    Official explanation ↗

    Registered: 46,028,542 · Cast: 36,584,399 · Valid: 35,883,209. The historical official return combines votes blancs and invalid ballots; no separate blank-vote percentage is invented.

    2012: National election return ↗

    02

    Round 2 · The runoff

    How it works +

    Why a second vote?

    No candidate obtained an absolute majority in the first round. The runoff gives voters a choice between the two finalists. First-round votes do not carry over. The winner is determined by valid candidate votes, not a majority of everyone registered.

    Votes blancs and invalid ballots count toward participation but not the candidate-vote denominator. These direct elections are distinct from the electoral-college election held in 1958.

    Official account of the historical endorsement rules ↗

    6 May 2012

    What do shares of registered voters mean?

    The usual share divides a candidate’s votes by valid candidate votes. Registered-voter mode divides that same count by everyone registered, including abstainers and people casting a vote blanc or an invalid ballot.

    Example: 30 out of 60 valid votes is 50%. If 100 people were registered, those same 30 votes are 30% of the electorate. The count and legal outcome are unchanged.

    Click a candidate row or bar to open context. All bars use a 0–100% scale. Candidate percentages use valid candidate votes.

    François HollandeParti socialisteElected president51.64%18,000,668 votesExplore +

    François Hollande

    Historical ticket: Parti socialiste.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    PS succeeded SFIO in 1969. Mitterrand’s 1974 candidacy had broader Union of the Left support. Candidate totals cannot be separated into the votes of each supporting party. The 1965 Mitterrand entry is a CIR-led candidacy backed by SFIO and PCF, not a result for a PS organization that did not yet exist. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Parti socialiste / SFIO predecessor. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    No active same-person 2027 profile is linked here. This does not imply that the party has no 2027 contender.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Parti socialiste / SFIO predecessor · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    Ségolène Royal · Parti socialiste

    25.87%

    46.94%

    2002 ↗

    Lionel Jospin · Parti socialiste

    16.18%

    Not in runoff

    1995 ↗

    Lionel Jospin · Parti socialiste

    23.30%

    47.36%

    1988 ↗

    François Mitterrand · Parti socialiste

    34.11%

    54.02%

    1981 ↗

    François Mitterrand · Parti socialiste

    25.85%

    51.76%

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Nicolas SarkozyUnion pour un mouvement populaireRunoff finalist48.36%16,860,685 votesExplore +

    Nicolas Sarkozy

    Historical ticket: Union pour un mouvement populaire.

    Names, continuity and current identity

    UMP was renamed Les Républicains in 2015. UMP was formed in 2002 from RPR and other organizations: earlier RPR and UDR entries are predecessor-lineage comparisons, not an unchanged party. The earlier Gaullist series also includes UNR–UDT in 1965 and UNR support in 1958. These are labelled predecessor organizations, not LR under its present name. Rival RPR members Chirac and Balladur are listed separately in 1995, never added together. Party history reference ↗

    Party identity: Les Républicains / UMP / RPR / UDR. The source tables below preserve each historical ticket; a lineage is not a claim that all these organizations were identical.

    No active same-person 2027 profile is linked here. This does not imply that the party has no 2027 contender.

    Earlier direct presidential elections (up to five)

    This table includes up to five earlier direct elections of the Fifth Republic, and fewer when fewer had occurred. 1958’s indirect electoral-college election is documented separately ↗

    Newest first, within the Fifth Republic. Shared endorsements are labelled, never treated as separate party votes. “No separate entry” is not a 0% result.

    Les Républicains / UMP / RPR / UDR · earlier direct contests before 2012
    YearCandidate / contemporary labelRound 1Runoff
    2007 ↗

    Nicolas Sarkozy · Union pour un mouvement populaire

    31.18%

    53.06%

    2002 ↗

    Jacques Chirac · Rassemblement pour la République

    19.88%

    82.21%

    1995 ↗

    Jacques Chirac · Rassemblement pour la République, Chirac candidacy

    Édouard Balladur · RPR member, rival candidacy supported by UDF

    20.84%

    18.58%

    52.64%

    Not in runoff

    1988 ↗

    Jacques Chirac · Rassemblement pour la République

    19.96%

    45.98%

    1981 ↗

    Jacques Chirac · Rassemblement pour la République

    18.00%

    Not in runoff

    Historical first-round and runoff shares use valid candidate votes. Broad predecessors and family comparisons are explicitly named. For PS and UMP/LR, the successive percentages document the change without assigning causes or making editorial judgments.

    Turnoutof registered voters80.35%37,016,309
    Abstentionof registered voters19.65%9,049,998
    Votes blancs + invalid ballotsof ballots cast5.82%2,154,956
    Vote blanc: participating without choosing a candidate

    A vote blanc is an empty envelope or an envelope containing a blank ballot. It differs from abstention, because the voter participates, and from a vote nul, an invalid ballot.

    It can express “I came to vote, but I do not choose any of these candidates.” It is sometimes used as a protest, although the total cannot reveal every voter’s motive.

    Votes blancs count toward turnout, not valid candidate votes. Separate counting from invalid ballots began in 2014, so older elections show a combined total. They do not automatically cause another election.

    Official explanation ↗

    Registered: 46,066,307 · Cast: 37,016,309 · Valid: 34,861,353. The historical official return combines votes blancs and invalid ballots; no separate blank-vote percentage is invented.

    2012: National election return ↗

    2012 · France voted

    Shares of valid candidate votes. Escape exits. Small or highly zoomed screens may need landscape or accessibility scrolling.

    Sources & definitions

    The direct-election archive now begins in 1965. The 1958 electoral-college election is separate and excluded from popular-vote comparisons. Counts for pre-2002 pages follow their linked historical proclamations and transcriptions; percentages are recalculated from those counts.

    For 1988, the first-round data use the final corrected totals annexed to the 11 May proclamation, rather than the earlier 27 April declaration. Blank and invalid ballots are combined throughout these historical returns.

    In 1995, Chirac and Balladur were rival RPR members. Both appear separately on the results page and in lineage histories. A single-line party comparison uses the highest-vote candidate in that labelled lineage, not the sum of both candidacies. This is not a combined party-vote total.

    National totals, France entière, from the linked national returns. Pre-2002 pages identify their Constitutional Council proclamations or historical transcriptions. Candidate share = votes ÷ valid candidate votes; turnout = ballots cast ÷ registered voters; vote blanc / invalid percentages = those ballots ÷ ballots cast. Registrations can differ between rounds. Rounded percentages may not sum to 100%.

    Before 2014 the published totals combine votes blancs and invalid ballots. Separate blank and invalid series therefore have gaps for 2002, 2007 and 2012. The combined series is comparable across all five elections. Missing party candidacies are gaps, not zero votes.

    Colors are stable identifiers, not official political classifications. Rename continuity is distinguished from mergers, predecessors, coalitions and shared endorsements. The old lookbacks reach 1969 and use secondary historical compilations, linked per year; the direct-election pages use their linked national returns and historical transcriptions.

    This section presents numerical results and descriptive facts, not critical readings. Comparisons do not identify individual voter transfers or establish the causes of a change.

    Find 2012 French election results in English: first-round results, second-round runoff, who won the 2012 French presidential election, candidate votes and voter turnout. These are presidential, not parliamentary, results.
    Teaching and learning

    Intended audience: Undergraduate students in French studies, history, political science and related fields; independent adult learners.

    Suggested uses: Guided data interpretation, election comparison and evidence-based discussion.

    After using this resource, learners should be able to:

    • Interpret the election results, turnout figures and ballot statistics presented in this resource.
    • Identify the election, round, geographic scope and denominator before comparing figures.
    • Distinguish descriptive patterns in the data from claims about individual voting motives.

    Use the objectives that correspond to the material available on this page. Collection pages provide entry points to individual resources; unfinished or unavailable material is not a completed learning activity.

    Original materials © Dr. Amine Zidouh / French Politics, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 unless otherwise indicated. When sharing or reproducing covered material, credit Dr. Amine Zidouh and French Politics, link to the source and license, and identify changes. Images, protest signs, artworks and other third-party materials are excluded. See Rights, Credits & Educational Reuse for scope, attribution and the as-is disclaimer.