The French voters have confused many politicians with a striking feint. Only a third of the population voted in the regional elections. And those votes did not go to the parties of the politicians most popular nationally: President Emmanuel Macron and the right-wing populist Marine Le Pen.
This is evident from the forecasts and first results of the second round of the regional elections, which were held today. It is estimated that about 65 percent of the French have not voted. In the first round, a week ago, it was 66 percent. Never in recent French history have so few people gone to the polls.
The historically low turnout is an important signal to politicians. The French are said to have stayed at home en masse because they are suspicious and dissatisfied with their representatives. In the first round, among 18 to 24 year olds, only 1 in 10 voters voted, polls show.
Surprising outcome
The stay-at-homes manifest themselves at an important moment: in a year’s time there will be presidential elections in France.
The results of the regional elections are also surprising. Votes were mainly for the right-wing Les Républicains and for the Socialists. They already had a lot of power at the regional level and they hold it in their hands. Their good scores are at odds with their national popularity, which is actually low.
The parties of Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron do not gain majority in one region. Le Pens Rassemblement National (RN) managed to get a decent score in many regions, but never finished first. Macron’s La République En Marche (LREM) almost never played a significant role.
That outcome is striking because Le Pen and Macron are precisely the politicians who always lead in national polls.
Signal to politics
“This is a setback for us, but also a very important political event that we have to find an answer to,” the LREM said. Marine Le Pen was already looking ahead. “The French are turning away from politics and that is a signal to all politicians,” she said. “More than ever, the presidential elections are the elections with which we can change something.”
Many are eagerly awaiting President Emmanuel Macron’s response to the regional elections. Some say he may appoint new ministers to revitalize his government. It is also possible that he will adjust his policy.
In recent months, Macron has been putting more emphasis on topics such as security and Muslim extremism. He also embarked on a tour of the country, “to gauge the mood of the French,” as his associates said.
The president is also focusing more emphatically on young people than before. He recently made a video with two famous French YouTubers. And last week he even had a surprising visit to the presidential palace: Justin Bieber.
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