The result of the legislative elections in France leaves me with mixed feelings. And worried. While the ballot boxes are still hot, it is already concluded that the country will be ungovernable, paralyzed and that it will soon be necessary to return there. We also rightly deplore the unprecedented number of far-right elected officials. And yet, it has been a long time since the distribution of seats has been so representative of the diversity of the French electorate under the Ve Republic.
Posted at 2:00 p.m.
There is an apparent paradox. On the one hand, we still deplore the lack of democratic representativeness and we plead for a reform of the electoral system. On the other hand, when democracy speaks and we obtain a result that comes close to it, we consider that the system is ungovernable. However, this result resembles, more or less, what proportional representation should give. Today, in the National Assembly, France therefore finds itself facing itself. And it is true that this unique portrait questions and worries…
First of all, all the comments point to the historic failure of President Emmanuel Macron, victim of the degagism syndrome, who failed to obtain an absolute majority. Small consolation, his group Ensemble! remains first. But the message is clear: his record has not really convinced and he can no longer govern alone.
Mr. Macron will have to quickly put away his hyperpresidential costume, cut the presidential diet and put himself in the parliamentary regime.
Will he opt, with Les Républicains, for a more right-wing menu? Anyway, all dieticians know, the success of a good diet is in balance and moderation.
Then, France – well, the France that votes, because it’s only half of it – is not on the left today. Indeed, if the left-right axis is still a reliable compass in politics, the left obtains roughly a third of the vote. Of course, the New People’s Ecological and Social Union comes in second place and marks a remobilization of leftist forces. But, while he had already gone to the tailor to take the measurements of his prime minister’s suit, Jean-Luc Mélenchon will probably have to wait. In 2019, my dad published a little essay, Why does the left always end up losing? He could add a chapter to it.
Historic breakthrough
Finally, a sad mirror, the far right made a historic breakthrough with nearly 90 deputies from the National Rally returning to the National Assembly. The Republican Front’s dike finally gave way. A little surprised herself, Marine Le Pen can put on her evening dress, that of the chief “patriot” of the besieged nation. Make no mistake about it: the habit does not make the monk. The far right is still the far right1. And those who doubt it will soon have the leisure to notice it by hearing the sound of boots in the Assembly.
There are of course objective conditions that explain these results. The fall in purchasing power, the lack of confidence in institutions, the feeling of insecurity, etc., in a context marked by attacks, two years of pandemic, a climate crisis more real than ever, a war in Europe and a recession on the horizon. This feeds the fears and discontent of a large part of the voters.
But these conditions are exploited by an ambient confusionism which constitutes both a strategy and a democratic risk, for which certain politicians and media are responsible.
On the left as on the right, we stir up the populist fiber with a small dose of conspiracy on occasion. We trivialize the extreme right, when we don’t quite simply deny its existence. The left is presented in the guise of a bogeyman, putting everyone in the basket of “extremism”. We are going to small-time strategies to try to win elections. In France, as here, democracy wears out when it is abused. We have to stop walking around with matches in a dynamite warehouse.
Yesterday, on one leg, democracy spoke. Tomorrow, in the Assembly, France will come face to face with itself. Polarized and angry in a period of high political, economic, social and ecological risk. Its elected representatives must listen. But also put aside partisan egos and small political calculations to work together. This is the price of democracy. Otherwise, part of this France will quickly return to the streets. And in five years, who knows if the reflection will not be even darker. With as a costume this time, that of an undertaker sounding the death knell for many of the values of the Republic.
* The author speaks in a personal capacity.