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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 February 2019
In France the public financing of national election campaigns as practiced throughout its history has not yet resolved several problems which are related to the legal and political development of French institutions and society. This current legal situation, which is still in a state of transition, has been based on a series of conceptions which do not reflect the reality of modern political campaigns. So far, the French legislation seems to ignore the tremendous importance of contemporary advertising as a means of favoring candidates who can afford it and provides that only a limited number of activities, printed materials, and a limited amount of media time be given for free by the government in order to make a person's abilities and platform known. The Government of the Fifth Republic, instead of increasing its support to financial campaigns, has generally acted in such a way as if some limitations on necessary expenses would put all the candidates on the same level. Another problem consists of the deliberate ignoring of the existence of the parties in the legal sense, with the exception of broadcast regulations which do mention the parties and political groups by name. The dichotomy between the legislation and reality is so great that very often when the rules are violated, no judicial sanctions are imposed.
1. Laws of July 3, 1972, and August 7, 1974. Nouvem Répertoire de Droit. Mise a jour 1977, 1531 (Paris, Dalloz, 1977).Google Scholar
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3 Supra note 1.Google Scholar
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** Moreover, during recent presidential elections, several lesser known candidates were unable to obtain paper and to find a printer who would do their electoral propaganda material. For many reasons some candidates were unable to forward printed documents to their destination or to meet the deadlines imposed for their printings and written declarations in the whole country. [Le Monde, July 26, 1974, P. 8].Google Scholar
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29 Premier Avocat general honoraire a la Cour de cassation, supra note 26.Google Scholar
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