It was a question, for the French voters invited to the ballot boxes in approximately 5000 of the 35 000 French communes, to elect their municipal councils and to designate their future mayors. But in view of the unprecedented results of this local election, it is a national test which is since Sunday evening engaged for Emmanuel Macron and the executive power. Green wave in many metropolises, general failure of presidential candidates, good resistance from traditional right and left parties and above all unprecedented disaffection for the voting booths, with almost 60% abstentions … The desire for reform and change expressed by French voters in 2017 during the presidential election shifted towards ecology and democratic doubt. For how long and with what consequences? Explanations.
■ This massive abstention that changed the game
Estimated at almost 60%, abstention this Sunday was not only massive. It is the largest since 1958 and confirms the disaffection of the French for the ballot boxes, while protests in the streets have multiplied since the crisis of “yellow vests” in 2018-2019. Of course, one-off factors explain this result, starting with the controversial decision to organize this second round of voting in late June, three months before the first round of June 15 (53.5% abstention at the national level) which was held when the coronavirus began to sweep over France. The fact that the Covid-19 continues to circulate in the country (many retirees did not go to vote), and the loss of meaning of this poll caused by this delay between the two rounds (normally separated by a week) may explain this disaffection.
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