European elections: One month ahead, the French badly need to start doing their homework

Romain BRUNET

6 May 2024 at 10:49 am·1-min read

The French public lacks crucial information about the upcoming European elections and the role of the European Parliament while holding broadly pessimistic attitudes about the European Union, according to an exclusive survey carried out by French pollster Viavoice for French media including FRANCE 24's parent group France Médias Monde, France Télévisions and Radio France.

Just under 50 percent of French people are interested in the European parliamentary elections, with 48 percent declaring no interest in the June vote, according to a Viavoice survey published Monday.

Moreover, a large proportion of respondents still fundamentally misunderstand the aims of the upcoming vote – and the nature of the European Parliament itself.

Nearly half (46 percent) of French people surveyed think that the upcoming elections allow voters to elect the members of the European Commission – which is not the case – and just 40 percent correctly responded “false” to a question asking if the voting will take place over two rounds.

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