In Paris, “I voted Nupes with death in my soul”, says Paul, 76
Just opposite the Center Beaubourg, in the heart of Paris, Paul and Edith come out of the voting booth almost at the same time. One and the other waited in line for a long time to slip into the ballot box a ballot bearing a name… which they did not like. But not the same.
“In the first round, we choose, in the second, we eliminateexplains Paul. Me, I would have gladly eliminated both! But I finally voted Nupes, with a heavy heart. » This 76-year-old former consultant does not carry in his heart the rally of the left, carried here by lawyer Caroline Mecary, in the 7e constituency of Paris. “It’s a union of pure facade”, he said. He wondered: “Would I take Mélenchon as a babysitter? Would I lend him my moped? No never ! » However, he is even more critical with the presidential majority, represented by Clément Beaune, the Minister Delegate in charge of Europe.
“As a former hussar non-commissioned officer, I have a certain admiration for the ambitionsaid the man in the flowered shirt smiling. But ambition is not enough. You need a project. However, on subjects as strategic as education or health, the president has no project, no vision. He allows the French social model to be damaged. » Edith, who also prefers to remain anonymous, holds a fairly symmetrical discourse. “I am on the left, and Macron is really not my cup of teaconfides this woman, in her fifties, who writes and translates books. I have no particular affection for the young man I voted for, Clément Baune. But my left is that of Blum and Jaurès. Not that of Jules Guesde. »
If she has resolved to choose the Macronist candidate, it is therefore above all to oppose Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Caroline Mecary. “They represent a communitarian left, which divides society by successively addressing different electoratesshe judges. It is the opposite of the secular and universalist message for which I fight every day. »
A few minutes later, Thien leaves the polling station. He voted for the candidate of the current presidential majority with much less reluctance. “Between the strikes, the reform of the SNCF, the Covid, the war, Macron did not have an easy mandate, and he managed the country rather well”, believes this La Poste executive. He adds with a laugh: “With the pension reform in sight, the rest will be difficult too. If I had been in his place, I would not have represented myself. »
In this 7e constituency of Paris, Caroline Mecary came out on top in the first round of legislative elections, with 41.40% of the vote. Historic walker, close to the head of state, Clément Beaune (35.81%) nevertheless hopes to catch up, keep this constituency in the bosom of the presidential majority and, at the same time, keep his place in the government.