Cantonale elections to renew canton general councillors were held in France on 10 and 17 March 1985. The left, in power since 1981, lost 10 departments. As a result, the right controlled 69 out of 95 departments.

Electoral system

The cantonales elections use the same system as the regional or legislative elections. There is a 10% threshold (10% of registered voters) needed to proceed to the second round.

National results

Runoff results missing

Party/Alliance % (first round) Seats
  PS 24.90% 413
UDF 18.10% 519
  RPR 16.60% 390
Miscellaneous Right 14.40% 399
PCF 12.50% 139
FN 8.90% 2
Miscellaneous Left 1.80% 33
MRG 1.50% 57
Ecologists 0.80% 2
Far-Left 0.60% 0

Sources

Alain Lancelot, Les élections sous la Ve République, PUF, Paris, 1988