The Press in France | Macron, lackluster

(Paris) Victory without appeal for Emmanuel Macron.

Jean-Christophe Laurence
The Press

While we expected a close result, the outgoing president was re-elected Sunday evening by the comfortable margin of 58.5% of the vote against 41.5% for his rival Marine Le Pen. An election marked by a high abstention rate and a historic progression of the far right in France.

In front of his activists gathered at Champ-de-Mars, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, Emmanuel Macron delivered a humble and unifying speech, surrounded by children and his wife, Brigitte Macron, against the backdrop of theOde to Joy of the 9^and Beethoven’s Symphony, the European anthem.

Posing as “president of all”, he reached out to the voters of M^me Le Pen, believing that “the anger and disagreements that led them to vote for this project must also find an answer”, and said he was “obligated” towards those who had voted for him out of spite.

The tone was intended to be sober, far from triumphalism. A way, perhaps, to break this image of arrogance that sticks to his skin and makes him so divisive.

“This new era will not be the continuity of the five-year term which is ending”, assured the outgoing president, calling for “benevolent and respectful” in a country “steeped in so many doubts, so many divisions”.

A few kilometers away, in the 16^and district, Marine Le Pen seemed far from disappointed, strong from a relatively honorable defeat. Calling her performance “a resounding victory”, Marine Le Pen rallied her supporters with a speech of revenge, and called for the “battle” of the legislative elections in June “with all those who had the courage to oppose Emmanuel Macron” and “have France pegged to the body”.

Eliminated narrowly in the first round, the leader of La France insoumise (radical left), Jean-Luc Mélenchon, spoke in stride, reiterating his wish to form a left bloc for the legislative elections. Just like Eric Zemmour, fourth in the first round, who again called for an alliance of the rights in the same elections, described as “third round” in France.

Blocking Le Pen

Beyond the result, without ambiguity, this election will remain that of a spectacular abstention of 27.8%, an unprecedented rate for a second round since 1969 (31.3%). By comparison, non-participation was 25.4% in 2017, 19.7% in 2012 and 16% in 2007.

These figures confirm an increasingly heavy trend in France, where the electorate continues to demobilize, out of cynicism, disillusionment or weariness with the political system.

In addition, the poster for this second round did not arouse great enthusiasm, at least in the 13^and arrondissement of Paris, where was The Press. If we voted for Macron without hesitation, it was rather to block Marine Le Pen and not by adherence to the program and the personality of the outgoing president.

“I voted for him with a heavy heart,” said Marie Claire, a bad-tempered septuagenarian, as she left the polling station.^oh 65 Arago Street. “We saw him at work for five years and we find ourselves in the same situation. »

A little further, Céline, late twenties, had the same speech. “I did not vote for anyone in particular. I voted for someone in particular not to be elected, she said. Macron disappointed me, but I can’t vote for the extreme right. Do you understand what I’m trying to say ? Too bad the choice was so difficult to make. »

For Frank, it was even more direct: “Macron is the least worst of the two”, he decided, putting away his surgical mask.

Majority rejection… but still not unanimous. Some – less numerous – also voted out of support for the progressive, liberal and pro-European program of the outgoing president. This was the case of Olivier, who voted Macron in the first round as well as in the second.

“He made mistakes, but who doesn’t? He was not such a bad president. For me, he was the best since Mitterrand,” he said.

Like the frog in a pan

For political scientist Thomas Guénolé, known for his commitment to the left, the story of this evening is not abstention, but the score of the National Rally, which goes from 33% five years ago to 41% today. today. This increase is certainly less important than the figures announced by the polls, but according to him it should serve as a warning.

“It’s a bit like the frog that is in a pan of water,” he says. As it is gradual, she does not react, she gets used to it and she ends up being scalded. I have the impression that this is what happens to French democracy. We are getting used to the rising tide of neo-fascism. »

Emmanuel Macron, 44, is the first French president to be re-elected for a second term in 20 years, since Jacques Chirac in 2002 – facing Marine Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie Le Pen.

His task will be to bring together divided French people and respond to a very strong anger since the demonstrations of the yellow vests of 2018 and 2019, which has never really been resolved.

It will also have to respond to the anxieties aroused by the succession of crises, from the COVID-19 pandemic to the war in Ukraine.

During his last major rally in Marseille a week ago, Mr. Macron, much criticized for his green record, promised that a new five-year term under his reign would be “ecological or would not be”, and promised a renewal of politics.

Often described as “president of the rich”, the president has multiplied his gestures towards this electorate on the left, seeming ready to make concessions on certain points, and in particular his controversial and emblematic pension reform, which he has failed to put in place. implemented during his first term.

Following the legislative elections of June 12 and 19.

With Agence France-Presse

They and they said