Many parties will apply for the 2024 European elections, with fewer resources than traditional parties.
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“Are you voting in the next European elections?” asks a volunteer from the small Équinoxe party in the street. In the polls, the same parties are always mentioned: RN, Renaissance, PS, LR, EELV, LFI. But on June 9, the date of the European elections in France, they will not be the only ones to present 81 candidates for Brussels. Parties have from May 6 to 17 to submit their candidacy. In previous elections, there were a total of 34 lists. And in 2024, once again, the French will have the choice between a multitude of possibilities. And these “small” parties arouse the interest of voters.
An interest that we see on the ground with the young Équinoxe party, hasu during an essential exercise: towing. Around twenty volunteers patrol the metro exits near Paris City Hall. They havestop passers-by, the method is well known but seems to work. “It’s called Equinox. We are a young party. We no longer recognize ourselves in traditional political parties, we want to talk about the environment, we want to talk about democracy.”the volunteers explain to passers-by. “It’s a change from traditional parties”reacts a lady. “I think people also want a bit of renewal. I was interested to know what was on offer. I have an Instagram account so I looked”she explains.
Climate, precariousness and territories to stand out from traditional parties
Courted by other, more experienced lists, Équinoxe declined the offers to join. Created three years ago, the party is well aware that the 5% necessary to obtain a seat in Brussels will be difficult to reach, but that doesn’t matter for the head of the list Marie Cholley. “Our objective is above all to raise awareness about planetary limits. Above all, talk about sobriety, commitment, conviviality. It will already be a success.”explains Marie Cholley.
Jean-Christophe Fromantin,he various right-wing mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, also entered the race alongside Tarn senator Philippe Folliot. For them, the current debates do not speak enough about territories and do not explain enough to voters what is at stake in Europe. “We are going without the major parties, but ultimately we are helpless by the political offer”he explains. “Between sovereignism in all its forms, including very populist ones, and a center right which is not at all decentralizing, which does not respond to this idea of redistributing territories. We said to ourselves we have to go there, we don’t waste our time transmitting ideas”continues Jean-Christophe Fromantin.
European deputies, although elected with traditional parties, are also tempted by more freedom,like Pierre Larouturou. In 2019, his Nouvelle Donne party was associated with the PS and Place Publique, he won a seat in Brussels. But five years later, he decided to return there alone with the Changer l’Europe collective. “We find that today there is no other list that makes concrete proposals to lower rents, reduce precariousness, capable of putting 300 billion on thermal renovation, on public transport, on the climate “explains Pierre Larouturou. “We see lots of people who say: ‘I didn’t think I was going to vote’, especially young people, ‘and what you say really interests me. I’m going to go vote and I’m even going to help you campaign,'” he says. Volunteers also represent an important help, because the means are obviously not the same for small parties.
A low-budget campaign via social networks
At the head of Changer l’Europe, Pierre Larrouturou recognizes it: the means are not the same without the support of a big party, with more media coverage. So we have to innovate, for example, we are increasing the number of citizen cafés, screenings andt invests in social networks. “I made a tweet about the four-day week which got 4,800,000 views”he said.
Facebook, X, Twitch: there are many distribution channels. At Équinoxe, the activists understood this well. “On Instagram, we now have more than 21,000 people who follow us. That’s more than historic parties like the PS, Europe Écologie Les Verts or the French Communist Party”enthuses an activist. “And that’s part of our strategy. If you don’t appear in the media, you can find us on social networks”she explains.
Social networks on which Jean-Christophe Fromantin leafs through his campaign, qhe decided to do by bike, crossing France from Nantes to Strasbourg. It is, he explains, “really do France at 20 kilometers an hour, have time to listen, spend time in cafes, meet elected officials in the evening in their town hall, see farmers, join businesses”.
Ballots, a significant cost for small parties
In the Pirate Party, the decision to run alone was confirmed by the vote of the activists. But freedom of tone imposes choices, recognizes its head of list Caroline Zorn. “Today we have the means to post bulletins in six departments.”she explains. It is in fact the responsibility of each list to provide its ballots. For these six departments alone, the Pirate Party will have to pay 50 000 euros. “So we are effectively calling on voters to bring the Pirate Party ballot paper which we will put on the website and to go to their polling station to vote pirate. So, we have no other choice currently”pursuit of Caroline Zorn.
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“We can easily imagine the colossal budgets deployed by the parties which are more publicized than us, those which are almost certain to reach the 3% which will allow them to have reimbursement of expenses. And therefore that obliges us to be certain sobriety “explains Caroline Zorn. Others took out calculators so as not to print too many ballots. For example, they took into account abstention, since in In 2019, one in two French people did not go to the polls for the European elections.