Legislative elections: France massively abstained, which became structural

Legislative elections are no exception: the treaty once again broke the record in the first round on Sunday, June 12 and reached 52.49%. And we can be afraid that the same scenario will happen on Sunday 19: 2017. In the second round, 57.36% of voters did not go to 51.3% a week earlier. After the change of the election calendar in 2002 – where the presidential election now precedes the legislative election – the participants of the abstention continue to increase their ranks. 20 years ago, they avoided electing MPs by 35.6%, which is almost 17 points less than today.

Because the phenomenon of abstraction is massive and structural. This is evidenced by the recent election events: in 2019, almost 50% of French people did not vote in the European elections; In 2020, in the first round of local government elections, they stayed at home with 55.25%; In 2021 in the regions 66.72%. The only exception is the presidential election, where 26.31% abstained in the first round and 28.01% in the second (although the figures are higher than in 2017). Each time the same profiles apply to the farthest from politics, namely: young people, graduates, workers and employees.

“Political desocialization”

However, in 2022 the legislative campaign was strained, especially on the left. Creating a new People’s, Ecological and Social Union (Nupes, uniting La France insoumise, Socialist Party, Communist Party and Europe Ecologie-Les Verts) and its slogan. “Prime Minister of Melenchon” Made it possible to create a political bet for the election, which for twenty years now is to confirm the results of the presidential election.

By the promise of coexistence, the Melenquists are the main opponents of the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron. And, above all, they give voters frustrated by Jean-Luc Melenchon’s disqualification in the second round of the presidential election the opportunity for revenge and possibly victory. “Third Round”. But that was not enough.

The hyperpolarization between Jean-Luc Melenchon and Emmanuel Macron has sidelined people, especially right-wingers, who have said to themselves that they could not win and that it was not worth it to go there., Wants to believe Ipsos Deputy CEO Brice Teintourier. Thus, according to a poll by Ipsos-Sopra Steria on the French ballot (conducted from 8 to 11 June, with a sample of 3995 people, according to the quota method), 49% of respondents found the campaign. “Non-existent” ; 36% “Disappointing”And only 15% considered it “Interesting”. The Nuppe electorate decides in the same way, in almost equal proportions.