France’s traditional parties nervous ahead of EU vote [France and the European elections 2014]

Feature looks at the situation in France as regards the campaign for the elections to the European Parliament held in May 2014.

France's ruling Socialist Party (PS) kicked off its European election campaign on the 3 March 2014 with the ambition of securing the majority of French seats in the European Parliament, which is currently held by the country's centre-right party.

French centrists opened their campaign, by proclaiming their allegiance to Europe.

EurActiv reported on the 14 April 2014 that Marine Le Pen, leader of the Front National, was under fire for her economic programme, as well as for turning down a televised debate with Martin Schulz. French politicians also attacked her for ignoring her parliamentary responsibilities in Brussels.

National Front's leader launched her party's campaign for the European elections on the 1 May 2014 with a stinging attack on the European Union, urging voters to punish Brussels "gravediggers".

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Blog: French public opinion and Europe: Winds of change? http://www.europeansources.info/record/blog-french-public-opinion-and-europe-winds-of-change/

ESO: Background information: French MEPs acclaimed for EU parliamentary work http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-meps-acclaimed-for-eu-parliamentary-work/

ESO: Background information: French leftist coalition blows up ahead of EU, local elections http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-leftist-coalition-blows-up-ahead-of-eu-local-elections/

ESO: Background information: French centrists band together to defend 'European ideal' http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-centrists-band-together-to-defend-european-ideal/

ESO: Background information: Le Pen launches plan to unite the far right http://www.europeansources.info/record/le-pen-launches-plan-to-unite-the-far-right/

ESO: Background information: France is not moving to the right, but the French right is undergoing a process of radicalisation http://www.europeansources.info/record/france-is-not-moving-to-the-right-but-the-french-right-is-undergoing-a-process-of-radicalisation/

EurActiv, 04.03.14: French socialists attack the right in campaign kick-off http://www.euractiv.com/eu-elections-2014/french-socialists-attack-right-c-news-533898

Wikipedia: European Parliament election, 2014 (France) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament_election,_2014_%28France%29

ESO: Background information: European Parliament: Election, May 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-may-2014/

EUObserver, 20.03.14: French socialists hope to capitalise on anti-EU sentiment http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123518

EurActiv, 31.03.14: Spring cleaning in French politics http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/spring-cleaning-french-politics-301245

ESO: Background information: Battered Socialists hold Paris as far right makes gains in local elections / Hollande names Interior Minister Manuel Valls as France’s new prime minister http://www.europeansources.info/record/battered-socialists-hold-paris-as-far-right-makes-gains-in-local-elections-hollande-names-interior-minister-manuel-valls-as-frances-new-prime-minister/

The Guardian, 041.04.14: French MEPs expect low turnout in European elections http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/01/french-meps-turnout-european-elections

EurActiv, 04.04.14: French alternative parties take on European elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/french-alternative-parties-take-european-elections-301361

EurActiv, 08.04.14: French centrists gear up for European elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/french-centrists-gear-european-elections-301412

EurActiv, 14.04.14: Le Pen’s 'dodgy' economics http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/le-pens-dodgy-economics-301529

EUObserver [Opinion], 14.04.14: Hate speech, not Europe, tops agenda in French EU vote http://euobserver.com/opinion/123830

EurActiv, 15.04.14: Second poll puts French far-right in the lead for EU elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/second-poll-puts-french-far-right-lead-eu-elections-301579

EurActiv, 15.04.14: Marine Le Pen under fire for absenteeism and untruths http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/marine-le-pen-under-fire-absenteeism-and-untruths-301563

EurActiv, 23.04.14: National Front 'not worried' about finding anti-EU allies in Parliament http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/national-front-not-worried-about-finding-anti-eu-allies-parliament-301702

EurActiv, 25.04.14: French candidates clash over Europe's future http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/french-candidates-clash-over-europes-future-301741

openDemocracy: Can Europe make it?, 21.01.14: France's European spleen http://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/aurelien-mondon/frances-european-spleen

EurActiv, 29.04.14: UMP struggles to present united front on Europe http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/ump-struggles-present-united-front-europe-301794

EurActiv, 29.04.14: French far-Left divided for European elections http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/french-far-left-divided-european-elections-301831

EUObserver, 01.05.14: De-demonising the National Front: is it for real? http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/123909

EurActiv, 02.05.14: Le Pen vows to punish Brussels ‘gravediggers’ http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/le-pen-vows-punish-brussels-gravediggers-301875

EUObserver, 02.05.14: Le Pen attacks Brussels "gravediggers" in May Day event http://euobserver.com/news/123993

BBC News, 01.05.14: National Front in patriotic fervour http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-eu-27240756

EurActiv, 05.05.14: French more interested in Europe than five years ago http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/french-more-interested-europe-five-years-ago-301910

---