The new law has come into effect: From now onwards, French citizens under guardianship have the right to vote. This means that they will be able to cast their ballot at the upcoming European elections. The change in law followed an announcement made by French president Emmanuel Macron in July 2018. It concerns 360,000 adults under full guardianship who did not automatically receive the right to vote beforehand.
Inclusion Europe welcomes this step, which follows recent developments in Spain, Denmark and Germany. Many EU member states, however, need to follow now. A survey amongst our members shows that:
- In 4 countries, people under guardianship have no voting rights.
- In 11 countries, they have limited voting rights.
- In 10 countries, they have full voting rights.
Acknowledging the right to vote of people under guardianship can only be the first step towards fully abolishing guardianships, which deny people the right to decide about their own lives. The right to stand for election, not addressed in the current law, also needs to be open for all French citizens.
Further information:
Resources on Inclusion Europe’s website: “Make the most of the elections to the European Parliament!”
