2004 French regional elections


Regional elections in were held in France on 21 and 28 March 2004. At stake were the presidencies of each of France's 26 regions which, although they do not have legislative powers, manage sizeable budgets. The results were a triumph for the parties of the left, led by the French Socialist Party in alliance with minor parties including the French Communist Party, the Left Radical Party and The Greens. The left has usually fared moderately well in regional elections, but this was their best result since the regional system was introduced.
The left won control of twenty of the twenty-two regions of metropolitan France, defeating the parties of the mainstream right, the Union for a Popular Movement and the Union for French Democracy, and the extreme right National Front. The results were seen as a major setback for the then President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

National Results

GroupingPartiesVotes % Votes % RegionsSeats
LeftPS-Verts-PCF-PRG-MRC-DVG8,938,69536.86%12,896,82049.91%231,126
RightUMP-UDF-MPF-DVD8,179,86633.73%9,519,41636.84%2522
FNFN3,564,05914.70%3,199,39212.38%156
Far-leftLCR/LO1,199,1904.95%
The GreensLes Verts-UDB-PO546,4742.25%
CPNTCPNT397,0241.64%
EcologistsMEI-GE-CAP21385,4811.59%
Far-RightMNR-Alsace d'abord349,1811.44%
Miscellaneous Left252,6201.04%111,7200.43%36
Miscellaneous Right179,0150.74%11,0940.04%4
Miscellaneous164,3970.68%
RegionalistsMIM-Corsican regionalists94,3510.39%99,5120.39%136
Total24,250,353100.00%25,837,954100.00%261,880

Results by region

The first round was held on 21 March. Since no candidate gained a majority in any region, a second round was held on 28 March, in which only candidates who polled more than 10% in the first round were eligible to run. The UMP seat numbers are compared to those of the RPR and RPR dissidents together in 1998, the UDF seat numbers are compared to those of the UDF and UDF dissidents together in 1998.

Alsace

See Alsace Regional Council
CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Adrien Zeller 'UMP225,19334.06%299,35343.56%
Jacques BigotPS-Verts133,03820.12%236,70934.44%
Patrick BinderFN122,86018.58%151,18722.00%
Robert SpielerAlsace d'abord62,2539.42%
Antoine WaechterMEI48.9497.40%
Alfred WahlPCF-PRG-MRC24,6923.73%
Patrick MerckDivers23,5403.56%
Françoise RuchLCR/LO20,0043.03%
Pascale GraussFederalist Party5780.09%
Total'''661,107100,00%687,249100,00%

Regional Council

Conservative Alsace is one of only two regions retained by the right.

Aquitaine

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Alain Rousset 'PS-PRG-Verts516,39238.42%769,89354.87%
Xavier DarcosUMP-CNIP247,23218.40%469,38633.46%
Jacques ColombierFN153,85911.45%163,73111.67%
François BayrouUDF215,79616.06%
Jean Saint-JosseCPNT96,9257.21%
Annie GuilhametPCF-MRC58,4854.35%
Martine MailfertLCR/LO55,2154.11%
Total'''1,343,904100.00%1,403,010100.00%

Regional Council

is a traditional stronghold of the left.

Auvergne

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Pierre-Joël BontéPS167,43328.22%333,30152.67%
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing 'UMP-UDF-FRS215,92136.39%299,48347.33%
Louis de CondéFN56,8749.58%--
André ChassaignePCF54,6099.20%
Yves GueydonVerts33,2725.61%
Marie SavreLCR/LO25,3894.28%
Hugues AuvrayMiscellaneous Right-wing20,4983.45%
Hubert ConstanciasMEI-Mouvement Hommes-Animaux-Nature20,4983.45%
Claude JaffrèsMNR6,1081.03%
Total'''593,391100.00%632,784100.00%

Regional Council

The former President of France, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, was seeking a fourth term as President of Auvergne.

Brittany

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Jean-Yves Le DrianPS-PCF-PRG521,98038.48%841,00458.79%
Josselin de Rohan 'UMP347,22125.60%589,62541.21%
Bruno JoncourUDF150,05011.06%
Pascale LogetLes Verts-UDB-Frankiz Breizh131,5219.70%
Brigitte NeveuxFN114,8838.47%
Françoise DubuLCR/LO64,8054.78%
Lionel DavidMNR25,9921.92%
Total'''1,356,460100.00%1,430,611100.00%

Regional Council

Normally conservative Brittany is captured by the left.

Burgundy

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
François PatriatPS-PCF-PRG-Verts240,44536.01%369,28852.49%
Jean-Pierre Soisson 'UMP-MDR145,42821.78%226,14832.14%
Pierre Jaboulet-VercherreFN105,27015.77%108,13315.37%
François SauvadetUDF88,67412.98%
Julien GonzalezMEI34,8105.21%
Jacqueline LambertLCR/LO26,1913.92%
Joël MekhantarMRC17,2132.58%
Claude MoreauMNR11,7011.75%
Total'''669,732100.00%703,569100.00%

Regional Council

returned to its usual left-wing loyalty. It is suspected that the incumbent Jean-Pierre Soisson was punished for his coalition with the National Front.

Centre

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Michel Sapin 'PS-PCF-PRG-Verts-MRC378,23538.15%517,99049.15%
Serge VinçonUMP-MPF205,26220.71%362,37334.39%
Jean VerdonFN173,65117.52%173,46316.46%
Jacqueline GouraultUDF-CAP21135,77913.70%
Jean-Jacques ProdhommeLCR/LO55,6405.61%
François CaréCPNT42,7934.32%
Total'''991,360100.00%1,053,826100.00%

Regional Council

The left retains control of this region. Sapin replaces the retiring incumbent Alain Rafesthain.

Champagne-Ardenne

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Jean-Paul BachyPS-PCF-PRG-Verts-MRC141,09927.94%228,56941.88%
Jean-Claude Etienne 'UMP-MPF134,64026.66%217,42439.84%
Bruno SubtilFN99,59219.72%99,72818.27%
Charles de CoursonUDF56,11011.11%
Marie-Angèle KlaineVerts37,9377.51%
Thomas RoseLCR/LO25,2475.00%
Jacques GaillardMNR10,3602.05%
Total'''504,985100.00%545,721100.00%

Regional Council

The left captures usually conservative Champagne-Ardenne.

Corsica

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Camille de Rocca-SerraUMP20,15514.59%35,62825.05%
Emile ZuccarelliPRG17,90612.96%26,43418.59%
Edmond SimeoniChjama Naziunale-PNC-Accolta naziunale corsa16,77212.14%24,65217.34%
Paul GiacobbiPRG dissidents14,47710.48%21,56215.16%
Dominique BucchiniPCF9,1476.62%11,8118.31%
Jose Rossi 'UMP dissidents8,8046.37%11,0947.8%
Simon RenucciCorse Social-Démocrate8,0185.8%11,0257.75%
Olivier MartinelliFN6,1814.47%
Toussaint LucianiLeft-wing regionalists6,0554.38%
Pierre-Philippe CeccaldiRight-wing regionalists5,6374.08%
Jérôme PolveriniUMP dissidents4,5683.31%
Jean-Louis AlbertiniMiscellaneous Right-Wing4,4293.21%
Jean-Louis LucianiMiscellaneous Left-Wing3,8602.79%
Paul-Félix BenedettiRegionalists3,0212.19%
Jean-Luc ChiappiniRegionalists2,6121.89%
J.Marc CiabriniPS2,5411.84%
Marie-Louis OttaviUDF2,1091.53%
Vincent CarlottiPS dissidents1,0970.79%
Serge VandepoorteFar-Left regionalists8000.58%
Total'''138,189100.00%142,206100.00%

Regional Council

Conservative Corsica is the right's only success apart from Alsace.

Franche-Comté

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Raymond ForniPS-Verts146,55331.28%240,55146.79%
Jean-François Humbert 'UMP116,35424.84%185,76136.13%
Sophie MontelFN87,49818.68%87,76617.07%
Gérard FaivreUDF36,0297.69%
Jacques LanconMEI26,4475.65%
Christian DrianoLCR/LO22,0594.71%
Evelyne TernantPCF-PRG-MRC19,5774.18%
Marie-France LigneyMNR6,9141.48%
Hervée de LafondMiscellaneous5,8841.25%
Jean-Philippe AllenbachPF1,1540.25%
Total'''468,469100.00%514,078100.00%

Regional Council

The left retakes Franche-Comté.

Île-de-France

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Jean-Paul Huchon 'PS-MRC-PRG-Verts1,170,45331.95%1,923,13949.16%
Jean-François CopéUMP-MPF-CNIP-FRS908,26524.79%1,592,98840.72%
Marine Le PenFN448,98312.26%395,51610.11%
André SantiniUDF-CAP21590,54216.12%
Marie-George BuffetPCF-Association for a Republican Left263,9157.20%
Arlette LaguillerLO/LCR146,1533.99%
Carine PelegrinGE-PF-Others91,8752.51%
Nicolas BayMNR43,1711.18%
Total'''3,663,357100.00%3,911,643100.00%

Regional Council

The left retains control of Île-de-France, the region surrounding Paris and gets a comfortable majority. Huchon previously could not rely on a majority.

Languedoc-Roussillon

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Georges FrêchePS-MRC-PRG-Verts387,21436.32%578,78551.22%
Jacques Blanc 'UMP258,28724.23%258,28733.10%
Alain JametFN183,03117.17%177,07415.67%
Marc DufourUDF60,8225.71%
Alain EsclopeCPNT53,3175.00%
Georges FandosCAP2151,0894.79%
David HermetLO/LCR50,0654.70%
Christian LacourRegionalists 13,5381.27%
Elisabeth PascalMNR8,6270.81%
Total'''1,065,990100.00%1,129,911100.00%

Regional Council

The left re-establishes its usual dominance of Languedoc-Roussillon.

Limousin

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Jean-Paul DenanotPS-PCF-PRG140,21741.14%215,62462.02%
Raymond ArcherUMP79,53123.33%132,04937.98%
Patricia GibeauFN31,7369.31%
Jean-Claude DeschampsUDF28,1698.26%
Stéphane LajaumontLO/LCR22,5296.61%
Jean-Bernard DamiensVerts-Partit Occitan20,5316.02%
Jean-Louis HirondeCPNT18,1335.32%
Total340,846100.00%347,673100.00%

Regional Council

The left retains control of Limousin, with Denanot succeeding the retiring incumbent Robert Savy.

Lorraine

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Jean-Pierre MasseretPS-PCF-Verts253,62629.22%457,36748.51%
Gérard Longuet 'UMP192,15722.14%322,55834.21%
Thierry GourlotFN152,66017.59%162,82017.27%
Nathalie GriesbeckUDF75,6098.71%
Jean-Louis MassonUMP diss-MPF58,0806.69%
Christiane NimsgernLO/LCR40,6884.69%
Daniel DelrezPRG-MRC40,6844.69%
Eric LemaitreMEI37,2444.29%
Annick MartinMNR17,3441.98%
Total'''868,092100.00%942,745100.00%

Regional Council

The left captures Lorraine.

Midi-Pyrénées

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Martin Malvy 'PS-PCF-PRG497,71441.39%712,23357.50%
Jacques GodfrainUMP-CNIP-FRS228,44919.00%376,91530.43%
Louis AliotFN141,59811.78%149,41712.06%
Michel ValdiguiéUDF-CAP21-MPF122,03310.15%
Jean-Pierre BatailleVerts-Partit Occitan-Alternatifs96,9838.07%
Lucien SanchezLO/LCR58,6624.88%
Christiane AutigeonCPNT57,0534.74%
Total'''1,202,492100.00%1,238,565100.00%

Regional Council

The left retains its traditional dominance of Midi-Pyrénées.

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Daniel Percheron 'PS-PRG484,79829.89%883,88551.84%
Jean-Paul DelevoyeUMP-CNIP-FRS280,10217.27%484,81728.43%
Carl LangFN290,90817.94%336,43419.73%
Alain BocquetPCF173,20010.68%
Valérie LétardUDF129,8278.01%
Jean-François CaronVerts101,8086.28%
Nicole BaudrinLO/LCR82,8685.11%
Henri BailleulMEI33,2302.05%
Georges Hienburalistes 25,4331.57%
Yann PhelippeauMNR19,5511.21%
Jean-Marc MauriceRight to Hunt110.00%
Total'''1,621,736100.00%1,705,136100.00%

Regional Council

is also a stronghold of the left.

Lower Normandy

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Philippe DuronPS-PCF-MRC143,09523.91%297,27946.22%
René Garrec 'UMP-MPF-FRS172,05028.74%257,35240.01%
Fernand Le RachinelFN83,74213.99%88,61813.78%
Philippe AugierUDF55,4369.26%
Alain TourretPRG-Verts50,1058.37%
Didier VergyCPNT31,3765.24%
Christine CoulonLCR/LO28,8884.83%
Jérémy FollyMiscellaneous Left-wing17,5862.94%
Etienne AdamANPAG-Alternatives 16,2682.72%
Total'''598,546100.00%643,249100.00%

Regional Council

The left had never before won control of Lower Normandy.

Upper Normandy

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Alain Le Vern 'PS-PCF-PRG-Verts281,31438.86%408,16352.69%
Antoine RufenachtUMP-MPF153,08921.15%253,48032.72%
Dominique ChabocheFN115,18315.91%113,01314.59%
Hervé MorinUDF-CAP2190,50512.50%
Christine PoupinLCR/LO40,4345.59%
Bernard FrauMEI-GE30,2024.17%
Philippe Foucher-SaillenfestMNR13,1241.81%
Total'''723,851100.00%774,656100.00%

Regional Council

The left retained its traditional hold on Upper Normandy.

Pays de la Loire

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Jacques AuxiettePS-PRG-PCF-Verts518,47537.20%762,61852.36%
François FillonUMP-CNIP-FRS-MPF450,56032.33%693,99347.64%
Jean ArthuisUDF-CAP21169,25212.14%
Samuel MaréchalFN135,3909.71%
Yves ChèereLO/LCR84,5676.07%
Paul PetitdidierMNR35,4752.55%
Total1,393,719100.00%1,456,611100.00%

Regional Council

The right loses the normally conservative Pays de la Loire region. Fillon was the candidate of the right in succession to the retiring Jean-Luc Harousseau.

Picardy

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Claude GewercPS-PRG-Verts210,33827.24%379,66345.47%
Gilles de RobienUDF-UMP-CNIP-FRS-MPF-CAP21247,42532.26%299,51835.87%
Michel GuiniotFN175,94022.94%155,85818.66%
Maxime GremetzPCF83,28210.86%
Roland SzpirkoLO/LCR49,9956.52%
Total766,980100.00%835,039100.00%

Regional Council

The left captured the Picardy region, following the retirement of the incumbent, Charles Baur.

Poitou-Charentes

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Ségolène RoyalPS-PRG-PCF-Verts350,46646.29%448,95055.10%
Élisabeth MorinUMP-UDF-MPF249,37332.93%294,95936.20%
Jean-Romée CharbonneauFN79,48410.50%70,8988.70%
Gérard FontenayCPNT43,6455.76%
Claude QuemarLO/LCR34,2214.52%
Total757,189100.00%814,807100.00%

Regional Council

, a region where right and left are traditionally equal, falls to the left. It is the home region of Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Michel VauzellePS-PRG-PCF-Verts633,33935.01%881,35045.18%
Renaud MuselierUMP-UDF-CAP21472,03626.09%659,59233.81%
Guy MacaryFN415,17122.95%409,78621.01%
Aline Vidal-DaumasCPNT53,7822.97%
Alain VauzelleMNR53,2512.94%
Patrice MiranMEI-MHAN-TREFLE51,5432.85%
Samuel JoshuaLO/LCR48,6802.69%
Philippe SanmarcoMiscellaneous Left-Wing 28,3171.57%
Alain PersiaUnion of the Republican Right19,5501.08%
Jean-Marie Mure-RavaudPole of Liberties19,0781.05%
Abel DjerariMiscellaneous7,0210.39%
Jérôme de RocquignyMiscellaneous7,0140.39%
Franck VidalRight to Hunt1570.01%
Total1,808,939100.00%1,950,728100.00%

Regional Council

The left retains control of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, who intended to run in this region, was disqualified because he did not fulfill the legal conditions: he neither lived there, nor was registered as a taxpayer there.

Rhône-Alpes

CandidatePartyVotes % Votes %
Jean-Jack QueyrannePS-PRG-PCF688,71832.19%1,083,75546.52%
Anne-Marie CompariniUDF-UMP-CAP21-FRS667,85631.22%889,81538.20%
Bruno GollnischFN389,56518.21%355,86415.28%
Gérard LerasVerts215,78310.09%
Patrick BertrandGRAD-Union of Radical Republicans 46,6112.18%
Norbert ChetailMNR35,3101.65%
Roseline VachettaLO/LCR95,5244.47%
Total2,139,367100.00%2,329,434100.00%

Regional Council

The left captures the usually conservative Rhône-Alpes region.