In accordance with the Staff Rules and Regulations, the Director-General may authorise members of the personnel to stand as candidates in local elections. Members of the personnel may thus become local councillors but they may not hold the office of mayor or deputy mayor or any office resulting from a delegation of powers by the mayor.

Employed members of the personnel wishing to stand as candidates in the 2026 municipal elections in France must first request authorisation from the Director General using the relevant form. As an exception to the procedure governing participation in activities outside the Organization, this authorisation may be requested for the entire six-year term.

Where such requests are authorised, the members of the personnel concerned must carry out their political activities in strict compliance with the provisions laid down in Chapter I, Section 3 of the Staff Rules and Regulations (“Conduct”) and in the associated implementing texts. In particular, they must exercise the reserve and tact incumbent upon them by virtue of their international status and must refrain from any activity that could be prejudicial to the Organization’s reputation or to the proper execution of its mission.

When campaigning and when performing their duties as elected officials, members of the personnel must not mention the name of CERN, use its emblem or refer to its functioning or activities.

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For more information: https://admin-eguide.web.cern.ch/en/procedure/authorisation-engage-external-activities