How France's two-round system works

A one-page reference for readers used to a single-round, first-past-the-post election.

Two rounds, two different elections

France elects its president by direct universal suffrage in two rounds, held two weeks apart (18 April and 2 May 2027). The first direct presidential election of the Fifth Republic was held in 1965 — before that, an electoral college chose the president. In every direct election since, no candidate has won an absolute majority of valid votes in the first round, so the top two always go to the runoff. The runoff winner takes the presidency with a majority of valid votes by construction: there are only two names left.

That is why French first-round percentages look small to American readers, and why runoff percentages look enormous. The two numbers measure different elections: the first is a multi-party free-for-all; the second is a forced choice that often functions as a coalition against one of the two finalists. See the Republican Barrier essay for what that structure does to the meaning of a “landslide.”

Getting on the ballot: the 500 parrainages

To appear on the ballot, a candidate must present at least 500 parrainages — signed endorsements from elected officials (mayors, parliamentarians, local councillors) drawn from at least 30 different departments, with no more than one-tenth from any single department. The requirement filters the field: dozens of people declare candidacies; far fewer gather the signatures. This is why this site distinguishes declared contenders from official candidates — the official list does not exist until the constitutional authorities validate it in the days before the first round. It is also why the 1981 Front national row in our results table reads “not on ballot”: Jean-Marie Le Pen failed to obtain the signatures that year.

What the president actually gets

A runoff majority is a mandate to govern, not a guarantee of governing power. The president appoints the prime minister, but the National Assembly can force the government's resignation. Since 2022, no single group has held an Assembly majority, and France has been governed through shifting minority arrangements. Whoever wins in May 2027 may face the same arithmetic — see Who Governs France After the Presidential Election? (in preparation).