In representative democracies and in France in particular, trust in Parliament is very low and citizens’ expectations about MPs work are manifold. More precisely, surveys show that citizens ask for MPs to be more responsible to their opinions and needs. However, on the other hand, literature shows that MPs spend time in having contact with citizens. By using the example of France, the goal of this paper is to investigate the content of these contacts by adopting the perspective of MPs. First, we will demonstrate that these contacts take place mainly in constituency while the time spent in Paris is dedicated to legislative work. Second, we will highlight that these contacts can take several forms depending not only on the individual MP but also on the context in which s(he) operates. A strong focus will be done on the difference between rural and urban MPs.
