#2019-1269Law No. 2019-1269 of December 2, 2019, Clarifying Various Provisions of Electoral Law
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The law LOI n° 2019-1269 aims to clarify various aspects of electoral law in France, particularly focusing on the financial management of election campaigns. It introduces measures to improve the traceability of financial transactions for political financing and establishes new regulations regarding the presentation and auditing of campaign accounts, thereby enhancing transparency in election processes. Additionally, it sets restrictions on campaign activities as the election date approaches and modifies existing rules on campaign financing limits.
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Key Changes
- Introduces the use of payment service providers for political financing to ensure financial traceability.
- Revises the requirements for campaign accounts, including mandatory presentation by a certified accountant under certain conditions.
- Establishes stricter rules on when election results can be communicated to the public.
Obligations
What this law requires
Natural persons are prohibited from providing guarantees to candidates or helping them obtain loans for campaign financing.
Electoral financing associations and financial representatives must use payment service providers (as defined in French Monetary and Financial Code Article L. 521-1) to collect funds, with modalities determined by decree to ensure financial transaction traceability and compliance with donation limits.
Candidates and head-of-list candidates who obtained at least 1% of votes cast or received donations from individuals must establish a campaign account (compte de campagne) documenting all receipts by origin and all expenses by nature for the electoral period.
Campaign accounts must be presented and certified by a member of the French chartered accountants' association (ordre des experts-comptables), except for candidates obtaining less than 5% of votes (or 3% for European Parliament elections) with campaign receipts and expenses below a decree-set threshold.
Campaign accounts cannot record expenses after election day, except for settlement of expenses incurred before the second round (or first round if candidate did not advance to second round).