Political Disenchantment in France and the Election of Emmanuel Macron

Venue: Theatre, Elisabeth Murdoch

Presenters: Professor Arnaud Mercier

The French's deep crisis of trust regarding policy in general, and the forces of government in particular, was expressed in French voters' aspirations for what one of the candidates (Jean-Luc Melenchon, extreme-left) called 'degagisme' (get-outism), a slogan taken from the mantra of the Tunisian demonstrators during the Arab Spring.

These aspirations were strongly demonstrated during the recent French elections, by abstention, by vote for populist forces or by voting for Macron. Emmanuel Macron, who emerged on the political scene less than a year ago, embodies an unprecedented form of protest voting while being a committed defender of the European Union and a culturally open society that is liberal in terms of morals.

In a climate of opinion at a European and even international scale (in which the domino theory seemed to predict a victory of the populists in the Netherlands, Austria and then in France after the victory of the Brexit campaign and Donald Trump), Macron's victory appeared as a relief for the continuation of the project of European construction. Hence the enthusiasm that his victory has generated beyond the borders of France. But what about within France itself?

Professor Arnaud will consider the state of French citizens' political disenchantment, the motivations driving the Macron vote, the sociological and ideological divisions within France, and the partisan restructuring at work.

Misha Ketchell, Editor of The Conversation, will chair this seminar.

from
https://events.unimelb.edu.au/events/9193-political-disenchantment-in-france-and-the-election-of-emmanuel-macron