Article 494 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure
The opposition shall be null and void if the opposing party does not appear on the date set for him either by the notification made to him orally and recorded in the minutes at the time the opposition was lodged, or by a new summons, delivered to the person concerned, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 550 et seq. However, in the event of an unsuspended custodial sentence, the…