EUROPEUS

For a long time, mass media try to sell us a second round, opposing the socialist Ségolène Royal and the Christian democrat Nicolas Sarkozy. But what about Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the National Front? According to recent polls, the man may at least reach 17% of the suffrages since the first round. 17% is not much, but enough in France to compete for the final countdown. Of course, when facing a socialist, a centrist (François Bayrou) or the leader of the right wing (Nicolas Sarkozy), Jean-Marie Le Pen will probably loose. But the history will remember he reached for the second time the second place on the podium.

How would this be possible in a country such as France? First, because, here, as in any other country, some people do not mind anymore voting for a extreme-nationalist. Everybody knows it: if things go bad, it is of course because of the migrants… Easy and sad thinking of course. But existing. Second, probably because of the need of a clash. A Moroccan guy told me recently that it would maybe not be a bad thing if Le Pen became president. I just told him this idea was crazy, moreover when coming from a migrant. His answer was as follow: “I know, but if this happens, we will have a real clash. Everything may break down. After that, we will be at least able to rebuilt something better!”

As many French, I do not know exactly what to think about this mess. But there is one thing I ama almost sure: the link between the French and their representatives is not at his best. A quite look at the abstention rate shows it, year after year. The blank vote increases also. But nobody really cares at the Elysée or at the National Assembly. Why? Maybe because only the result of a vote is taken into consideration. Whatever very few people have voted for a politician: when elected he says he has the support of the French people… Just because “elected”… Even if they were only 10%, 15% or 20% to support him. Will next presidential elections will change things. Honestly, I doubt it. As said before, when elected… But if no change occurs, who knows what might happen… French people do not ask for much: they just want to live in a democracy which values does not end with its spelling. They want concrete and regular links between themselves and their representatives. Not only every five or six years. They want projects for their country, real citizenship (bringing obligations to them but also rights). They want to be part of the decisions. In one word: no more a monarchy but a democracy. Until this moment, they carry on the debate on the blogs, probably the latest democratic sphere in France. Write about this campaign. Exchange point of views. Try to be heard and to know what other candidates (you do not see on TV shows) may have to propose. Or sing politics, as Khalifa, one of the numerous guys who does not much believe anymore in our system and vote blanks. A vote he wishes one day someone could, in France, take into consideration. Maybe just because this blank vote is not only a piece of better but has a real meaning…

Christophe Nonnenmacher is journalist