French Presidential election. How they differ from us.

[grossproffit]

Are there any rules on how to campaign?

French candidates are allowed to print posters, hold rallies and such, but they're not allowed to run the kind of TV ad campaigns you might see in the US and other countries.

Each candidate is allowed a small number of "statements" during the five-week official campaign period, which have to follow certain rules on editing and time.

What rules do the media have to follow?

The amount of time TV and radio stations dedicate to candidates and the amount of time they get to speak on air is fairly strictly controlled by France's audiovisual council.

What about opinion polls?

As always, it's forbidden to publish, broadcast or comment on any polls concerning voting intentions the day before or the day of the vote.

https://www.thelocal.fr/20170410/official-campaign-begins-for-french-presidential-election

Much more at the link above. I only snipped portions of the article.

[guillaumeb]

1. But "news" in the US is corporatized and monetized.

And as Leslie Moonves said, Trump might be terrible for America, but he is great for CBS. In Canada there are also limits on campaign length. A constant campaign is not allowed.

[Kilgore]

2. Doubt these rules would survive a first amendment challenge.

[lunamagica]

3. And no absurd Electoral College!