Similarly, the results were also a significant disappointment for Jean-Luc Mélenchon's La France Insoumise, which fell far short of both its presidential and legislative results in 2017 with only 6.31% of the vote, narrowly ahead of the joint list between the Socialist Party (PS), Place Publique, and New Deal led by Raphaël Glucksmann (the first time in its history the PS did not lead an autonomous list), which managed to remain in the European Parliament with its score of 6.19% of the vote, slightly above the 5% threshold needed for seats.

Numerous other lists fell short of the 5% threshold, including Nicolas Dupont-Aignan's Debout la France (DLF) and Benoît Hamon's Génération.s, the scores of which (both slightly above 3%) nevertheless allow their campaign expenses to be compensated by the state.

[1] On 29 November, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced that all parties consulted except for The Republicans supported returning to national lists, and confirmed the intention of the government to prepare a bill to change the voting system to that end,[2] which was officially unveiled on 3 January 2018,[3] preserving the 5% threshold for representation and 3% for reimbursement of campaign expenses.

[8] On 23 January 2018, the European Parliament Committee on Constitutional Affairs adopted a proposal to reduce the size of the hemicycle from 751 to 705, splitting 27 former British seats between 14 underrepresented member states of which France was set to gain 5, increasing its representation from 74 to 79.

[12] The length of campaign clips for each list was determined by its declared support among national parliamentarians (senators, deputies, and MEPs),[14] a change largely to the benefit of the governing majority at the expense of opposition parties.

On 14 May, Brossat said he would file an appeal with the CSA to intervene in the debate, while Hamon castigated France Télévisions president Delphine Ernotte for the decision, with Lagarde, Dupont-Aignan, and Philippot also denouncing the arrangement.

[50] On 1 December 2017, Pierre Laurent, national secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF), stated that he wanted to gather "the strongest possible left group" for the 2019 European elections, launching an appeal to Jean-Luc Mélenchon of La France Insoumise and Benoît Hamon of Génération.s.

[51] The national council of the PCF on 30 and 31 March approved the principle of a "common platform" including various left-wing groups as well as members of civil society and intellectuals, postponing discussion of electoral strategy.

It includes two incumbent MEPs (Patrick Le Hyaric and Marie-Pierre Vieu), trade unionist Marie-Hélène Bourlard in second position (featured in the documentary film Merci patron!

[82] On 10 March, Hamon called for the creation of the "first pan-European transnational list" alongside Razem in Poland, The Alternative in Denmark, and LIVRE in Portugal, publishing a common manifesto in June.

[93] Le Journal du Dimanche reported that top candidates would also include MEPs Guillaume Balas [fr] and Isabelle Thomas, ex-La France Insoumise member Sarah Soilihi, spokeswoman Aurore Lalucq, and community activist Salah Amokrane.

[94] In an interview published in Le Monde in early February, Hamon proposed that the left hold a "citizen vote" in April to select a common list and program,[95] though only New Deal, Les Radicaux de gauche [fr] (LRDG), and the Movement of Progressives (MdP) were receptive to the idea.

[138][139] Durand, a supporter of Nicolas Hulot, was seen as open to working with La République En Marche!, as was Karima Delli, despite her denial of any such intentions,[138] and on 13 April, she expressed her desire to lead the EELV list.

[150][151] Régions et Peuples Solidaires planned to contest the elections but left open the possibility of allying with the Greens,[152] and on 16 February 2019 announced it was an alliance, with former MEP François Alfonsi as well as Lydie Massard and Anne-Marie Hautant joining the list.

[153] On 23 February, the Independent Ecological Alliance (AEI) duly announced that it reached an agreement with the EELV, with Caroline Roose and Salima Yenbou within the top 10 electable places on the list.

[164] Other speculated list leaders included Édouard Philippe, François Bayrou, Nicolas Hulot, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet,[1][165] Sylvie Goulard, Daniel Cohn-Bendit,[166] Arnaud Danjean,[167] and Michel Barnier.

[174] Outgoing Green MEP Karima Delli, ministers Marlène Schiappa and Brune Poirson, deputy Amélie de Montchalin,[175] Pascal Canfin, head of the French section of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and former France Inter journalist Bernard Guetta were also considered potential candidates.

[176] Canfin declined to lead the list on 16 November,[177] and in late January 2019, Laurence Tubiana, president of the European Climate Foundation and former COP21 negotiator, was mentioned as a possibility,[178] as were Le Drian, sailor Maud Fontenoy,[179] justice minister Nicole Belloubet,[180] and Emmanuelle Wargon.

[185] Former Élysée advisor Stéphane Séjourné was designated campaign director on 29 October, tasked with creating a list alongside Agir,[176] and seeking a lead candidate with a "green profile".

[218] Other potential list leaders included Laurent Wauquiez, who declined,[219] Virginie Calmels, Damien Abad,[168] Nadine Morano,[165] Jean Leonetti, Arnaud Danjean,[220] Luc Ferry,[167] Brice Hortefeux,[221] Pierre de Villiers,[222] Éric Woerth, Christian Jacob,[223] Geoffroy Didier, Philippe Juvin, Michel Dantin,[224] and Arnaud Danjean,[225] though Leonetti declined,[226] Ferry was uninterested,[221] and Dantin decided instead to seek another term as mayor of Chambéry in 2020.

[234] Alexandre Vergnes, general secretary of Hunting, Fishing, Nature and Traditions (CPNT), was initially slated to appear in 13th – and later 15th – position, but was later demoted to 30th;[235] ultimately, the party announced on 11 April that its candidates would be Martine Aury in 48th and Pascal Marie in 31st.

[261] On 28 March 2019, Dupont-Aignan unveiled the first 23 candidates on the list, excluding Poisson because of his alleged refusal to embrace a collective approach, with outgoing MEPs Monot and Goddyn also absent "by mutual agreement".

In addition to Asselineau, Philippot sought a last-minute alliance with Dupont-Aignan, this time offering 400,000 euros for the third spot on the list, but was again rejected, with Bertrand Dutheil de La Rochère confirming these approaches.

[292] This effort began following the publication of an open letter signed by Lalanne and Governatori, co-secretary of the Independent Ecological Alliance (AEI), on 7 December 2018 supporting the principle of a gilets jaunes list.

[300][301] Another list, Mouvement pour l'Initiative Citoyenne, which supports implementing the RIC at the national and European level, was selected by drawing lots,[302] though it existed long before the movement, with its foundation in 2006 and presence in the 2009 elections.

[328] While the New Anticapitalist Party (NPA) initially sought to ally with Lutte Ouvrière (LO), with its national political council of 6 and 7 October 2018 approving of the principle of an alliance by a 37–22 vote (with 5 abstentions and 10 non-participants),[47] talks broke down in November 2018.

[48] On 28 January, the NPA indicated that it would attempt to present a list despite its serious financial difficulties,[329] soliciting donations from its members, with its leadership deciding on 24 March whether to contest the European elections.

[333] On 6 March 2019, Lassalle indicated he had about a "quarter" of the 800,000 to 1 million euros needed to finance the campaign,[334] and ultimately announced on 11 April 2019 that he would not present a list in the European elections,[335] lacking sufficient funding.

On 4 May 2019, the names of 33 official electoral lists, validated by the Ministry of the Interior, were published in the Journal officiel de la République française, with their order determined by drawing lots.

[359] Despite implicit pressure on him to step down after overseeing the worst result for the right in its history, Laurent Wauquiez initially sought to remain at the helm of The Republicans, proposing an "Estates General" to update the party's strategy and propositions.