Fueled by different and sometimes opposing reasons, the very high scores of the RN and LFI in the European elections could result in a large victory for the two opposition blocs in the legislative elections in the city’s seven constituencies.
The rebellious Sébastien Delogu and the RN candidate Arezki Selloum at least agree on one point: in the northern districts of Marseille, plagued by drug trafficking which left nearly 50 dead in 2023 in the Marseille city, the population feels abandoned. Unemployment exceeds 20% and nearly 45% of residents live below the poverty line in places, according to INSEE. But their solutions diverge.
The outgoing LFI deputy, who regrets that “the residents find drug dealers at the bottom of the blocks and not the State”, argues that the return of public services and community policing will resolve part of the problems. His competitor for the seat of deputy for the 7th district is calling for a return of order. It evokes “Fed up” of the population facing “the problem of immigration and insecurity”.
The two men are seeking a mandate as deputy during the legislative elections of June 30 and July 7. Here, La France insoumise came well ahead (48.4% of the votes) in the European elections, ahead of the National Rally (27%)*. The presidential camp makes up the figure there (4.3%), a bit like the city as a whole (10.3%), where the RN (30.1%) and LFI (21.5%) record very big scores.
This divide, fueled by different and sometimes opposing reasons, also reflects a rejection of Emmanuel Macron’s policies. Friday June 21, its Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, went to France’s second city to support the candidates of the presidential camp, which could lose its three deputies there.
“Macron and the RN vote hand in hand in the National Assembly”, deplores Sébastien Delogu, met on Tuesday June 18 during a stroll through the Saint-Antoine market, in the 15th arrondissement. The rebellious candidate, who likes to present himself as “half-deputy, half-citizen”, grew up in the northern neighborhoods. He sees with concern the RN rising, including in his constituency. “But what are they going to bring them? he asks himself. Old Italians or Poles tell me that they are going to vote for them, but these people are preparing to choose a program that they suffered [à leur arrivée en France].“
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In the northern neighborhoods, where many immigrants or descendants of immigrants live, the prospect of the far-right party coming to power worries the residents we met. “French people with immigrant backgrounds are the fruit of a history. We made this country, we are an asset, but some forget it. What will happen if they pass? We will be French people of second zone?”, asks Mustapha, an LFI activist whose Algerian parents emigrated in the 1960s to work. He voted in the European elections, unlike many residents of the constituency, who experienced more than 62% abstention. “People don’t realize the importance of going to vote, but these legislative elections are the most important elections in decades”he feels.
Marie, single and mother of two children, was attracted by LFI’s proposals on purchasing power and the increase in the minimum wage to 1,600 euros net. This beautician earns between 1,500 and 1,800 euros depending on the month and would welcome the increase in salaries proposed by the left. “We don’t live, we survive”she whispers.
This 38-year-old woman was also sensitive to the party’s campaign for A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, like many voters encountered in the Saint-Antoine market. “The flag flying confirmed my choice”, she assures, referring to Sébastien Delogu, who brandished a Palestinian flag at the Assembly at the end of May. The MP has since become a symbol that people stop in the street for a selfie. “A YouTuber who discredits the function”mocks his opponent Arezki Selloum.
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In the neighboring constituency, the third, his colleague Gisèle Lelouis had been in 2022 the first member of the National Rally ever elected in Marseille. The party won nearly 40% of the votes in the European elections in this constituency composed of HLM, but also, and above all, pavilions. Jean-Marc** gave his vote to Jordan Bardella in the European elections and will again vote RN in the legislative elections. If he admits to having a “left-wing behavior” on certain points, notably on the “social”this retiree concedes that the question of immigration and “identity” influence his choice.
“The vote is evolving because society is evolving, and people want France to remain France. The problem is not religion but adaptation. We bring people in, we offer them nothing and that fucks things up. mess.”
Jean-Marc, National Rally voterat franceinfo
This retiree, who lives not far from the La Rose and Frais Vallon districts, judges that “the cities are closing”. Without naming a community, Jean-Marc believes that“They want to impose on us a culture that is not ours.” He judges Emmanuel Macron responsible for this “disintegration” and feels “anger at this guy.” Cédric, his hairdresser, will also vote for the RN in the legislative elections – he “is not racist” and aspires to change. “How can you say you don’t like something if you haven’t tried it? Before you judge it, you have to try it”explains the craftsman based in the 12th arrondissement.
Jean-Pierre, retired, crossed on the heights of Marseille, thinks almost the same. He hesitates between the Republicans and the National Rally and will vote like his granddaughter, who likes Jordan Bardella. “She must have it on TikTokhe imagines. We almost always voted and it didn’t change anything, whether it was Pierre, Paul or Jacques.”, he judges. His friend Christian Bosq, municipal councilor for Printemps Marseille at Marseille town hall, finds the argument a little light. He denounces a program “of impostors and liars” and tries to convince those around him.
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Like Jean-Pierre, many disappointed voters, particularly on the right, want to give Marine Le Pen’s party a chance. This is the case in the second constituency, which covers the 7th and 8th arrondissements of the Marseille city, wealthy neighborhoods located in the south of the city. This stronghold of the traditional right – former mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin was a deputy there from 1978 to 1989 – placed the RN in the lead in the European elections. He will present a candidate from his alliance with the president of the Republicans in the constituency, which he could win with a presidential majority.
Olivier Rioult, ex-collaborator of Martine Vassal (DVD), the former LR president of the metropolis, justifies his joining the RN by “a choice of conviction and ideas”, In Provence. In particular, he said he wanted “put Marseille in order for more security” and place yourself in “bulwark against the far left and anti-Semitism”. Proposals that please Marc*, who runs a tobacco bar in the 8th arrondissement. This nostalgic for the Sarkozy years has been voting for the National Rally since 2017. He does not recognize himself in the positions of Emmanuel Macron and pleads for a “union of rights”. “There is only one big right”believes the one who denounces a “demonization of RN voters”. For him, as for several RN voters interviewed, the question of immigration comes up systematically.
“You really think that the 9 million people who voted RN [7,7 millions en réalité] are racists, fascists? I’m half disappointed with Sarko, half convinced by Bardella and I think we’re pitting people too much. It’s always black or white, there’s no more debate.”, he elaborates. The business manager, who employs six people in his bar, would particularly like Jordan Bardella to simplify his life if he comes to power. “The salary of a guy I employ actually costs me double. If we lower costs, I will be able to pay my employees better.” In terms of purchasing power, he believes that he could not support the increase in the minimum wage promised by the New Popular Front, whose arguments he mocks. “divisions” between François Hollande and the rebels.
A few kilometers from her bar, the LFI list carried by Manon Aubry scored very high scores in the city center of Marseille. The 4th and 5th districts, where the left is divided due to a dissident candidacy, should not escape the New Popular Front. “Here, people hoped to have Jean-Luc Mélenchon mayor of Marseille, then president of the Republic, and now they dream of having him Prime Minister”smiles Kalila Sevin, Manuel Bompard’s deputy in the 4th constituency.
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His colleague Allan Popelard, invested in the other central constituency in place of outgoing MP Hendrik Davi, takes a very critical look at Emmanuel Macron’s policies. “He helped fuel the poison of racism and homophobia, but he also ruined people’s lives” on social and economic issues, believes the candidate. “And in front of him, there are two large blocks.”
Stéphanie will choose the New Popular Front. “The RN is the polar opposite of my values, of my social class. They are perhaps not all racist, but they are definitely right-wing, on the economy, immigration”, she believes. In the event of a duel between the National Rally and Renaissance, she will not vote: “We blocked it once, twice… The third time, we said fuck it. Legitimizing Macron and his policies is no longer possible.”
*According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, which published the results of the European elections at the level of 577 constituencies.
**The first names have been changed at the request of the interested parties.