How far away seems the time when an abundant energy made the electoral campaign vibrate and when a young president who envisaged neither more nor less than the “revolution” in France was brought to power! Looking back on 2017, the Financial Times is struck by the different atmosphere in which the first round of the 2022 presidential election will take place on April 10.
In recent days, in the camp of Emmanuel Macron, it is estimated that to win the Élysée – which most polls assure him –, “the outgoing president will have to restore fervor in his campaign” :
“In his campaign team, there is concern that Macron devotes too much time to the war in Ukraine, to the point of having the image of a distant dignitary refusing contact with the voter.”
The stereotype of the politician from the Parisian elite
It is in particular the link with the voters of the working classes, more attracted today by Marine Le Pen, which is broken, points out the daily newspaper of the City, which had welcomed the election of Macron in 2017. However it is the candidate of the Rassemblement national that the main danger emanates today, according to the polls:
“If the role of president at war allowed him to raise his popularity rating, the effect is already dissipating. For disgruntled French voters, Macron has everything of the stereotype of the politician from the Parisian elites who we really want to put down the caquet.
Monday, March 28, the Head of State therefore appeared with his sleeves rolled up in the streets of Dijon, to discuss with the French the problem of soaring prices and defend his economic balance sheet. But he remains vulnerable, points the FT. The latest Ipsos poll, published the next day, shows Marine Le Pen more popular than ever: 19% in the first round (against 27% for Macron), and 44% in the second (against 56% for Macron).
The measures announced for what would be his second five-year term – pushing back the retirement age or reforming education – should further destabilize left-wing voters. And the FT to conclude on the uncertain context of the ballot:
“This presidential election, caught in the turmoil of a pandemic and a war in Europe, could be marked by a very strong abstention which risks foiling the forecasts of the pollsters – for many observers, Macron’s entourage has all the reasons to remain cautious.”