2004 French regional elections
First party
Second party
Third party
Leader
François Hollande
Alain Juppé
Jean-Marie Le Pen
Party
PS
UMP
FN
Regions won
23
2
0
Change
12
12
First round
8,938,695
8,179,866
3,564,059
Percentage
36.86%
33.73%
14.7%
Second round
12,896,820
9,519,416
3,199,392
Percentage
49.91%
36.84%
12.38%
Second round results by region.
Union for a Popular Movement
Socialist Party
Martinican Independence Movement
Communist Party of Réunion
Miscellaneous left
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 (PS) in alliance with minor parties, including the French Communist Party (PCF), the Left Radical Party (PRG) and The Greens (Les Verts ). 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 (UMP) and the Union for French Democracy (UDF), and the extreme right National Front (FN). The results were seen as a major setback for the then President Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin .
Grouping
Parties
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Regions
Seats
Left
PS -Verts -PCF -PRG -MRC -DVG
8,938,695
36.86%
12,896,820
49.91%
23
1,126
Right
UMP -UDF -MPF -DVD
8,179,866
33.73%
9,519,416
36.84%
2
522
FN
FN
3,564,059
14.70%
3,199,392
12.38%
–
156
Far-left
LCR /LO
1,199,190
4.95%
–
–
–
–
The Greens
Les Verts -UDB -PO
546,474
2.25%
–
–
–
–
CPNT
CPNT
397,024
1.64%
–
–
–
–
Ecologists
MEI -GE -CAP21
385,481
1.59%
–
–
–
–
Far-Right
MNR -Alsace d'abord
349,181
1.44%
–
–
–
–
Miscellaneous Left
252,620
1.04%
111,720
0.43%
–
36
Miscellaneous Right
179,015
0.74%
11,094
0.04%
–
4
Miscellaneous
164,397
0.68%
–
–
–
–
Regionalists
MIM -Corsican regionalists
94,351
0.39%
99,512
0.39%
1
36
Total
24,250,353
100.00%
25,837,954
100.00%
26
1,880
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 (except in Corsica, where the threshold is 5%). 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.
See Alsace Regional Council
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Adrien Zeller (incumbent)
UMP
225,193
34.06%
299,353
43.56%
Jacques Bigot
PS -Verts
133,038
20.12%
236,709
34.44%
Patrick Binder
FN
122,860
18.58%
151,187
22.00%
Robert Spieler
Alsace d'abord
62,253
9.42%
–
–
Antoine Waechter
MEI
48.949
7.40%
–
–
Alfred Wahl
PCF -PRG -MRC
24,692
3.73%
–
–
Patrick Merck
Divers
23,540
3.56%
–
–
Françoise Ruch
LCR /LO
20,004
3.03%
–
–
Pascale Grauss
Federalist Party
578
0.09%
–
–
Total
661,107
100,00%
687,249
100,00%
Conservative Alsace is one of only two regions retained by the right.
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Alain Rousset (incumbent)
PS -PRG -Verts
516,392
38.42%
769,893
54.87%
Xavier Darcos
UMP -CNIP
247,232
18.40%
469,386
33.46%
Jacques Colombier
FN
153,859
11.45%
163,731
11.67%
François Bayrou
UDF
215,796
16.06%
–
–
Jean Saint-Josse
CPNT
96,925
7.21%
–
–
Annie Guilhamet
PCF -MRC
58,485
4.35%
–
–
Martine Mailfert
LCR /LO
55,215
4.11%
–
–
Total
1,343,904
100.00%
1,403,010
100.00%
Aquitaine is a traditional stronghold of the left.
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Pierre-Joël Bonté
PS
167,433
28.22%
333,301
52.67%
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (incumbent)
UMP -UDF -FRS
215,921
36.39%
299,483
47.33%
Louis de Condé
FN
56,874
9.58%
André Chassaigne
PCF
54,609
9.20%
–
–
Yves Gueydon
Verts
33,272
5.61%
–
–
Marie Savre
LCR /LO
25,389
4.28%
–
–
Hugues Auvray
Miscellaneous Right-wing
20,498
3.45%
–
–
Hubert Constancias
MEI -Mouvement Hommes-Animaux-Nature
20,498
3.45%
–
–
Claude Jaffrès
MNR
6,108
1.03%
–
–
Total
593,391
100.00%
632,784
100.00%
The former President of France, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing , was seeking a fourth term as President of Auvergne .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Jean-Yves Le Drian
PS -PCF -PRG
521,980
38.48%
841,004
58.79%
Josselin de Rohan (incumbent)
UMP
347,221
25.60%
589,625
41.21%
Bruno Joncour
UDF
150,050
11.06%
–
–
Pascale Loget
Les Verts -UDB -Frankiz Breizh
131,521
9.70%
–
–
Brigitte Neveux
FN
114,883
8.47%
–
–
Françoise Dubu
LCR /LO
64,805
4.78%
–
–
Lionel David
MNR
25,992
1.92%
–
–
Total
1,356,460
100.00%
1,430,611
100.00%
Normally conservative Brittany is captured by the left.
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
François Patriat
PS -PCF -PRG -Verts
240,445
36.01%
369,288
52.49%
Jean-Pierre Soisson (incumbent)
UMP -MDR
145,428
21.78%
226,148
32.14%
Pierre Jaboulet-Vercherre
FN
105,270
15.77%
108,133
15.37%
François Sauvadet
UDF
88,674
12.98%
–
–
Julien Gonzalez
MEI
34,810
5.21%
–
–
Jacqueline Lambert
LCR /LO
26,191
3.92%
–
–
Joël Mekhantar
MRC
17,213
2.58%
–
–
Claude Moreau
MNR
11,701
1.75%
–
–
Total
669,732
100.00%
703,569
100.00%
Burgundy 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 .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Michel Sapin (incumbent)
PS -PCF -PRG -Verts -MRC
378,235
38.15%
517,990
49.15%
Serge Vinçon
UMP -MPF
205,262
20.71%
362,373
34.39%
Jean Verdon
FN
173,651
17.52%
173,463
16.46%
Jacqueline Gourault
UDF -CAP21
135,779
13.70%
–
–
Jean-Jacques Prodhomme
LCR /LO
55,640
5.61%
–
–
François Caré
CPNT
42,793
4.32%
–
–
Total
991,360
100.00%
1,053,826
100.00%
The left retains control of this region. Sapin replaces the retiring incumbent Alain Rafesthain .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Jean-Paul Bachy
PS -PCF -PRG -Verts -MRC
141,099
27.94%
228,569
41.88%
Jean-Claude Etienne (incumbent)
UMP -MPF
134,640
26.66%
217,424
39.84%
Bruno Subtil
FN
99,592
19.72%
99,728
18.27%
Charles de Courson
UDF
56,110
11.11%
–
–
Marie-Angèle Klaine
Verts
37,937
7.51%
–
–
Thomas Rose
LCR /LO
25,247
5.00%
–
–
Jacques Gaillard
MNR
10,360
2.05%
–
–
Total
504,985
100.00%
545,721
100.00%
The left captures usually conservative Champagne-Ardenne .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Camille de Rocca Serra
UMP
20,155
14.59%
35,628
25.05%
Émile Zuccarelli
PRG
17,906
12.96%
26,434
18.59%
Edmond Simeoni
Chjama Naziunale -PNC -ANC
16,772
12.14%
24,652
17.34%
Paul Giacobbi
PRG dissidents
14,477
10.48%
21,562
15.16%
Dominique Bucchini
PCF
9,147
6.62%
11,811
8.31%
José Rossi (incumbent)
UMP dissidents
8,804
6.37%
11,094
7.8%
Simon Renucci
Corse Social-Démocrate
8,018
5.8%
11,025
7.75%
Olivier Martinelli
FN
6,181
4.47%
–
–
Toussaint Luciani
Left-wing regionalists
6,055
4.38%
–
–
Pierre-Philippe Ceccaldi
Right-wing regionalists
5,637
4.08%
–
–
Jérôme Polverini
UMP dissidents
4,568
3.31%
–
–
Jean-Louis Albertini
DVD
4,429
3.21%
–
–
Jean-Louis Luciani
DVG
3,860
2.79%
–
–
Paul-Félix Benedetti
Regionalists
3,021
2.19%
–
–
Jean-Luc Chiappini
Regionalists
2,612
1.89%
–
–
J.Marc Ciabrini
PS
2,541
1.84%
–
–
Marie-Louis Ottavi
UDF
2,109
1.53%
–
–
Vincent Carlotti
PS dissidents
1,097
0.79%
–
–
Serge Vandepoorte
Far-Left regionalists
800
0.58%
–
–
Total
138,189
100.00%
142,206
100.00%
Conservative Corsica is the right's only success apart from Alsace .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Raymond Forni
PS -Verts
146,553
31.28%
240,551
46.79%
Jean-François Humbert (incumbent)
UMP
116,354
24.84%
185,761
36.13%
Sophie Montel
FN
87,498
18.68%
87,766
17.07%
Gérard Faivre
UDF
36,029
7.69%
–
–
Jacques Lancon
MEI
26,447
5.65%
–
–
Christian Driano
LCR /LO
22,059
4.71%
–
–
Evelyne Ternant
PCF -PRG -MRC
19,577
4.18%
–
–
Marie-France Ligney
MNR
6,914
1.48%
–
–
Hervée de Lafond
Miscellaneous
5,884
1.25%
–
–
Jean-Philippe Allenbach
PF
1,154
0.25%
–
–
Total
468,469
100.00%
514,078
100.00%
The left retakes Franche-Comté .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Jean-Paul Huchon (incumbent)
PS -MRC -PRG -Verts
1,170,453
31.95%
1,923,139
49.16%
Jean-François Copé
UMP -MPF -CNIP -FRS
908,265
24.79%
1,592,988
40.72%
Marine Le Pen
FN
448,983
12.26%
395,516
10.11%
André Santini
UDF -CAP21
590,542
16.12%
–
–
Marie-George Buffet
PCF -Association for a Republican Left
263,915
7.20%
–
–
Arlette Laguiller
LO /LCR
146,153
3.99%
–
–
Carine Pelegrin
GE -PF -Others
91,875
2.51%
–
–
Nicolas Bay
MNR
43,171
1.18%
–
–
Total
3,663,357
100.00%
3,911,643
100.00%
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 [ edit ]
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Georges Frêche
PS -MRC -PRG -Verts
387,214
36.32%
578,785
51.22%
Jacques Blanc (incumbent)
UMP
258,287
24.23%
258,287
33.10%
Alain Jamet
FN
183,031
17.17%
177,074
15.67%
Marc Dufour
UDF
60,822
5.71%
–
–
Alain Esclope
CPNT
53,317
5.00%
–
–
Georges Fandos
CAP21
51,089
4.79%
–
–
David Hermet
LO /LCR
50,065
4.70%
–
–
Christian Lacour
Regionalists (Far-Left)
13,538
1.27%
–
–
Elisabeth Pascal
MNR
8,627
0.81%
–
–
Total
1,065,990
100.00%
1,129,911
100.00%
The left re-establishes its usual dominance of Languedoc-Roussillon .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Jean-Paul Denanot
PS -PCF -PRG
140,217
41.14%
215,624
62.02%
Raymond Archer
UMP
79,531
23.33%
132,049
37.98%
Patricia Gibeau
FN
31,736
9.31%
–
–
Jean-Claude Deschamps
UDF
28,169
8.26%
–
–
Stéphane Lajaumont
LO /LCR
22,529
6.61%
–
–
Jean-Bernard Damiens
Verts -Partit Occitan
20,531
6.02%
–
–
Jean-Louis Hironde
CPNT
18,133
5.32%
–
–
Total
340,846
100.00%
347,673
100.00%
The left retains control of Limousin , with Denanot succeeding the retiring incumbent Robert Savy .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Jean-Pierre Masseret
PS -PCF -Verts
253,626
29.22%
457,367
48.51%
Gérard Longuet (incumbent)
UMP
192,157
22.14%
322,558
34.21%
Thierry Gourlot
FN
152,660
17.59%
162,820
17.27%
Nathalie Griesbeck
UDF
75,609
8.71%
–
–
Jean-Louis Masson
UMP diss-MPF
58,080
6.69%
–
–
Christiane Nimsgern
LO /LCR
40,688
4.69%
–
–
Daniel Delrez
PRG -MRC
40,684
4.69%
–
–
Eric Lemaitre
MEI
37,244
4.29%
–
–
Annick Martin
MNR
17,344
1.98%
–
–
Total
868,092
100.00%
942,745
100.00%
The left captures Lorraine .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Martin Malvy (incumbent)
PS -PCF -PRG
497,714
41.39%
712,233
57.50%
Jacques Godfrain
UMP -CNIP -FRS
228,449
19.00%
376,915
30.43%
Louis Aliot
FN
141,598
11.78%
149,417
12.06%
Michel Valdiguié
UDF -CAP21 -MPF
122,033
10.15%
–
–
Jean-Pierre Bataille
Verts -Partit Occitan-Alternatifs
96,983
8.07%
–
–
Lucien Sanchez
LO /LCR
58,662
4.88%
–
–
Christiane Autigeon
CPNT
57,053
4.74%
–
–
Total
1,202,492
100.00%
1,238,565
100.00%
The left retains its traditional dominance of Midi-Pyrénées .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Daniel Percheron (incumbent)
PS -PRG
484,798
29.89%
883,885
51.84%
Jean-Paul Delevoye
UMP -CNIP -FRS
280,102
17.27%
484,817
28.43%
Carl Lang
FN
290,908
17.94%
336,434
19.73%
Alain Bocquet
PCF
173,200
10.68%
–
–
Valérie Létard
UDF
129,827
8.01%
–
–
Jean-François Caron
Verts
101,808
6.28%
–
–
Nicole Baudrin
LO /LCR
82,868
5.11%
–
–
Henri Bailleul
MEI
33,230
2.05%
–
–
Georges Hien
buralistes (shopkeepers)
25,433
1.57%
–
–
Yann Phelippeau
MNR
19,551
1.21%
–
–
Jean-Marc Maurice
Right to Hunt
11
0.00%
–
–
Total
1,621,736
100.00%
1,705,136
100.00%
Nord-Pas-de-Calais is also a stronghold of the left.
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Philippe Duron
PS -PCF -MRC
143,095
23.91%
297,279
46.22%
René Garrec (incumbent)
UMP -MPF -FRS
172,050
28.74%
257,352
40.01%
Fernand Le Rachinel
FN
83,742
13.99%
88,618
13.78%
Philippe Augier
UDF
55,436
9.26%
–
–
Alain Tourret
PRG -Verts
50,105
8.37%
–
–
Didier Vergy
CPNT
31,376
5.24%
–
–
Christine Coulon
LCR /LO
28,888
4.83%
–
–
Jérémy Folly
Miscellaneous Left-wing
17,586
2.94%
–
–
Etienne Adam
ANPAG-Alternatives (far-left)
16,268
2.72%
–
–
Total
598,546
100.00%
643,249
100.00%
The left had never before won control of Lower Normandy .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Alain Le Vern (incumbent)
PS -PCF -PRG -Verts
281,314
38.86%
408,163
52.69%
Antoine Rufenacht
UMP -MPF
153,089
21.15%
253,480
32.72%
Dominique Chaboche
FN
115,183
15.91%
113,013
14.59%
Hervé Morin
UDF -CAP21
90,505
12.50%
–
–
Christine Poupin
LCR /LO
40,434
5.59%
–
–
Bernard Frau
MEI -GE
30,202
4.17%
–
–
Philippe Foucher-Saillenfest
MNR
13,124
1.81%
–
–
Total
723,851
100.00%
774,656
100.00%
The left retained its traditional hold on Upper Normandy .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Jacques Auxiette
PS -PRG -PCF -Verts
518,475
37.20%
762,618
52.36%
François Fillon
UMP -CNIP -FRS -MPF
450,560
32.33%
693,993
47.64%
Jean Arthuis
UDF -CAP21
169,252
12.14%
–
–
Samuel Maréchal
FN
135,390
9.71%
–
–
Yves Chèere
LO /LCR
84,567
6.07%
–
–
Paul Petitdidier
MNR
35,475
2.55%
–
–
Total
1,393,719
100.00%
1,456,611
100.00%
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 .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Claude Gewerc
PS -PRG -Verts
210,338
27.24%
379,663
45.47%
Gilles de Robien
UDF -UMP -CNIP -FRS -MPF -CAP21
247,425
32.26%
299,518
35.87%
Michel Guiniot
FN
175,940
22.94%
155,858
18.66%
Maxime Gremetz
PCF
83,282
10.86%
–
–
Roland Szpirko
LO /LCR
49,995
6.52%
–
–
Total
766,980
100.00%
835,039
100.00%
The left captured the Picardy region , following the retirement of the incumbent, Charles Baur .
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Ségolène Royal
PS -PRG -PCF -Verts
350,466
46.29%
448,950
55.10%
Élisabeth Morin
UMP -UDF -MPF
249,373
32.93%
294,959
36.20%
Jean-Romée Charbonneau
FN
79,484
10.50%
70,898
8.70%
Gérard Fontenay
CPNT
43,645
5.76%
–
–
Claude Quemar
LO /LCR
34,221
4.52%
–
–
Total
757,189
100.00%
814,807
100.00%
Poitou-Charentes , 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[ edit ]
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Michel Vauzelle
PS -PRG -PCF -Verts
633,339
35.01%
881,350
45.18%
Renaud Muselier
UMP -UDF -CAP21
472,036
26.09%
659,592
33.81%
Guy Macary
FN
415,171
22.95%
409,786
21.01%
Aline Vidal-Daumas
CPNT
53,782
2.97%
–
–
Alain Vauzelle
MNR
53,251
2.94%
–
–
Patrice Miran
MEI -MHAN-TREFLE
51,543
2.85%
–
–
Samuel Joshua
LO /LCR
48,680
2.69%
–
–
Philippe Sanmarco
Miscellaneous Left-Wing (CC)
28,317
1.57%
–
–
Alain Persia
Union of the Republican Right
19,550
1.08%
–
–
Jean-Marie Mure-Ravaud
Pole of Liberties
19,078
1.05%
–
–
Abel Djerari
Miscellaneous
7,021
0.39%
–
–
Jérôme de Rocquigny
Miscellaneous
7,014
0.39%
–
–
Franck Vidal
Right to Hunt
157
0.01%
–
–
Total
1,808,939
100.00%
1,950,728
100.00%
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.
Candidate
Party
Votes (Round One)
% (Round One)
Votes (Round Two)
% (Round Two)
Jean-Jack Queyranne
PS -PRG -PCF
688,718
32.19%
1,083,755
46.52%
Anne-Marie Comparini
UDF -UMP -CAP21 -FRS
667,856
31.22%
889,815
38.20%
Bruno Gollnisch
FN
389,565
18.21%
355,864
15.28%
Gérard Leras
Verts
215,783
10.09%
–
–
Patrick Bertrand
GRAD-Union of Radical Republicans (U2R)
46,611
2.18%
–
–
Norbert Chetail
MNR
35,310
1.65%
–
–
Roseline Vachetta
LO /LCR
95,524
4.47%
–
–
Total
2,139,367
100.00%
2,329,434
100.00%
The left captures the usually conservative Rhône-Alpes region.