What remedies are available in the first instance?
France
CodeElectoral (consolidated version, 4 August 2013)
Article L118-4
Saisi d'une contestation form?econtre l'?lection, le juge de l'?lection peut d?clarer in?ligible, pour unedur?e maximale de trois ans, le candidat qui a accompli des manœuvresfrauduleuses ayant eu pour objet ou pour effet de porter atteinte ? lasinc?rit? du scrutin.
L'in?ligibilit? d?clar?e sur le fondement du premier alin?a s'applique ? toutesles ?lections. Toutefois, elle n'a pas d'effet sur les mandats acquisant?rieurement ? la date de la d?cision.
Si le juge de l'?lection a d?clar?in?ligible un candidat proclam? ?lu, il annule son ?lection.
Attending toa claim against the election, the election judge may declare ineligible for aperiod of three years, the candidate who has managed to manoeuvre fraudulentlyand question the sincerity of the election.
The declaredineligibility on the basis of the first paragraph applies to all elections.However, it has no effect on the mandates acquired prior to the date of thedecision.
If theelection judge disqualified a candidate declared elected, he cancels hiselection.
