Editorial of n°60 Revolution
Part 1
The first round of the French presidential election has turned out as Macron had hoped, and as he had prepared for a long time. In 2017, Macron won 66% of the vote against Le Pen in the second round. Millions of voters who had voted for Mélenchon or Hamon at that time in the first round, mobilised to “block the far right” in the second round. For five years, the Head of State has been aiming for the repetition of this scenario.
Now he can say to himself, “So far so good.” For two weeks, he will strive to embody the role of the moderate, tolerant, humanist etc. candidate – in the face of the reactionary, racist and nationalist demagoguery of Marine Le Pen. Macron will be helped in this task by the vast concert of ‘left’ leaders who – having soaped the rope for Mélenchon – now fly to the aid of the Republic, solemnly calling for a vote to “beat Le Pen”.
It is possible that this will work, but it is not at all certain. In fact, the polls have shown a much tighter result than in 2017. And for good reason: since 2017, the candidate of the “shield against the far right” has led an extremely reactionary, anti-social, pro-capitalist, extreme right-wing programme, including the use of racist demagoguery. His reputation as a “shield against the far right” has taken a big hit. Consequently, the number of left-wing voters who will abstain in the second round will be higher than in 2017.
Furthermore, Le Pen will capture the vote of a large portion of those who voted for Pécresse and Zemmour. Finally, in an attempt to mobilise abstainers from the first round (and even left-wing voters), the leader of the RN (Rassemblement National, “National Rally”) will throw the catastrophic social consequences of Macron’s time in office back in his face.
Given how reviled Macron is amongst the most exploited and oppressed layers of society, it is not out of the question that Le Pen could reach her goal.
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