Primaries: how does this nomination system work in France?
Published
Primaries are elections held within a political party. Their purpose is to choose the candidate who will represent that party in an important election. During the campaign, voters can also discover the differences in political orientation that exist within the same party.
In France, this type of vote is not organised by the State. It is the parties themselves that decide to hold a primary, set its rules and appoint the body responsible for running it. Candidates generally present their programme, take part in debates and defend their ideas before voters. In so-called "open" primaries, participation is not reserved for party members: anyone who shares the party's values can vote, often after paying a small sum or signing a charter.
The vote usually takes place in two rounds. Voters first choose between several candidates. If none of them wins an absolute majority of the votes, a second round is held between the two people who came first. The candidate who wins this final vote becomes the party's official representative.
Primaries therefore allow citizens to take part more directly in choosing candidates. They also reveal the internal debates within a party and the diversity of its political sensitivities. For voters, it is an opportunity to better understand each candidate's proposals before the elections.
Sources: Lumni Enseignement
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