Antoine, 18, is a history and political science student in Paris. His interest in politics was born when he walked for the climate for the first time, in March 2019. Relieved to be old enough to vote for this presidential election, he chose candidate Yannick Jadot in the first round. Convinced neither by Marine Le Pen nor by Emmanuel Macron, he plans to vote blank, Sunday April 24, for the second in the presidential election.
Certain of not wanting to vote for Marine Le Pen in the second round of the presidential election, Antoine hesitates between the blank vote and the Emmanuel Macron vote. He seems to prefer the first option. “I know that every voice can count but with each statement by Emmanuel Macron it revolts me even more to go and vote for him“, says the student, citing the example of retirement at 65.
“I’m quite lost, between voting Macron out of spite or voting white.”
Anthony, 18 years oldat franceinfo
Antoine is nevertheless engaged. He marched for the climate, voted in the green primary and went to the polling station for the first round of the election. But for him, the white vote has a political meaning. “The blank vote remains a political demand. For me a blank vote has as much value as voting for a candidate.“
“I am less disappointed by the fact of voting blank than by the fact that there is no other alternative between the neoliberalism of Emmanuel Macron and the far-right authoritarianism of Marine Le Pen“, explains Antoine.
If Antoine votes blank on Sunday it is because he refuses to choose, he explains. “I refuse the choice between Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron. I refuse a choice that does not take into account the ecological, economic and social aspirations of young people. The second round leaves little horizon for the youth.“
If Antoine is disappointed with the poster for the second round, he still wants to remain mobilized after the presidential election. “I plan to vote in the legislative elections. If ever there is a strong mobilization, it can have an impact and I think that we can change the results of the presidential election to block the way to the elected president whoever he is”, he concludes.