At each French election, the Belgian media, including Free, can reveal the results of the vote in advance. Unlike the French media, they are not required to wait until 8 p.m. and the closing of all the polling stations.
In France, it is the law which prohibits it. Article 2 of the electoral law of July 19, 1977 prohibits all media from publishing, broadcasting or commenting on new polls linked to the presidential election, from Friday midnight to Sunday at 8 p.m. Article L.48-2 of the electoral code also prohibits any candidate “from bringing to the attention of the public a new element of electoral controversy at a time such that his adversaries do not have the possibility of responding usefully before the end of the electoral campaign.
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During this period, the campaign is over. Any leafleting or canvassing for a party or candidate by citizens is also prohibited.
Any person who goes against this law and attempts to disclose information before 8 p.m. on Sunday faces a fine of 75,000 euros. But the law is only applicable in France, and the Belgian media are therefore not required to do so.
This is why you will be able to find the first reliable results of the French legislative elections before 8 p.m. this Sunday on lalibre.be.
