This second round debate, the “rebellious” did not expect much. In Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis), where Jean-Luc Mélenchon won 55.22% of the votes in the first round, on April 10, it is without illusion that his supporters met, Thursday April 20, in a small neighborhood bar selling beers and mayonnaise fries.
“Tonight, we’re going to row for three hours, feeling a little excluded from the discussion but it’s nice to do it together”warned the deputy (La France insoumise, LFI) of Seine-Saint-Denis Alexis Corbière, judging the voters “orphans of a conversation that will not take place on the social question”.
After a welcome session for new activists, Olivier Madaule, deputy mayor and local LFI manager, retraces the progress of these disappointed in the first round. “The next day, it was hard, people wanted to vote white, but more and more, it leans Macron”, he assures. However, he does not discount the crowds of the big days for this collective listening session. “To be able to vote for Macron, it is sometimes better not to hear him too much”, he measures. After the aperitif, some therefore slip away. “The debates are a bit annoying”, launches a member of the nearby action group. On Sunday, he will abstain, but tells his friends who are hesitating between a blank vote and a Macron vote: “Your choice will be the right one. »
“They agree to lie together”
Others remain, unenthusiastic. The macronists? Alexandre Giraud, local activist, judges their campaign ” nothing “ and has only one piece of advice to give them: “The best thing they can do is shut up. Each time they open their mouth, they lose points. » Unlike 2017, when he abstained, the young man is thinking this time of slipping in a Macron bulletin, because the prospect of the far right’s accession to power has, according to him, become concrete. He will finally listen to these two and a half hours from one end to the other, without blocking his ears.
Why come? “At least we are not alone in front of our TV, in the gloom in front of the right and the far right”said a supporter.
The debate begins. Marine Le Pen talks about “national brotherhood”which triggers sighs in the room. “Both of us can get along”, said Emmanuel Macron to Marine Le Pen. A Bagnoletaise reacts: ” They lie. They agree to lie together. » Then comes the subject of retreats, everyone unfolds their project. Emmanuel Macron talks about amount and duration. “And age, he will talk about it? », exclaims one. As for Marine Le Pen, she interrupts him to slip in a lead, “60 years and forty annuities”. “But it’s not your project, it’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s! », we answer him in the room.
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