The French elections
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 28, 2017
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French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron addresses a campaign rally in Lyon, France, Feb. 4, 2017. [Xinhua file photo] |
In fact, both conservative and far-left candidates were eliminated in the hotly contested first round on Sunday. Far-right nationalist leader Marine Le Pen was expected to be among the leading candidates and hence not a surprise. She has capitalized on anti-immigrants sentiments and increasing threats of militants' attacks.
The victory of newcomer Mr. Macron, 39, is also a wakeup call for the traditional political establishment in France and elsewhere in Europe. It shows that people are fed up with the way politics have been run in the mainland European countries. They are ready for out of box choices.
Post-war Europe has been ruled in turns by conservatives, Christian democrats and social democrats. It worked well for decades, as Europe remerged out of the decapitations and ravages of the world wars and repositioned itself as a main force in the international affairs.
The experiment of the EU was quite successful. It helped to remove differences and integrate the people for a shared prosperity and economic progress. But for common people, something vital is missing in the entire phenomenon of progress. That is why questions are being asked about the EU and national identity being reasserted, as the case of Brexit shows.
The new realities are more formidable. For the ordinary people, traditional politicians have failed to provide reliable solutions. The threat posed by immigrants and extremism is not being responded to effectively. It has been evident by the wave of terrorist attacks in Europe.
When threatened, people either embrace new leaders and ideas, or take refuge in closed ethnic groups. The nationalist parties and far-right groups also exploit the situation. Hence, Marine Le Pen is using in her favor the prevailing psycho-social and politico-economic contradictions and challenges.
The first round shows that opinions are divided. Both contenders need to make extraordinary efforts to convince the people that they have the right answers for the problems and the challenges confronting the men and women on the streets.
The run-off on May 7 is not far away. The difference between Mr. Macron getting 23.8 percent of votes in the first round and Ms. Le Pen's 21.5 percent is not big and can swing in either direction.
Mr. Macron has some early advantages as already centre-right François Fillon with 19 percent vote in the first round has urged supporters to line up for Mr. Macron. Benoit Hamon, the candidate of President Hollande's Socialist Party has also done the same.
His youth and energy are other advantages as at the age of 39, he would be the youngest president of France if elected. He would also be the first president in the Fifth Republic who is not from a major political party. It showed his determination and raw appetite for taking risks and finding solutions.
Being a supporter of the EU is also an advantage and Mr. Macron is reaping the dividends. He has got support from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini after winning the first round.
Ms. Le Pen's Front National (FN), a party set up by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen in 1972, has come closer to the goal post. After taking over the leadership of the party in 2011 from her father, Marine Le Pen has made substantial gains in regional polls. Her popularity has thrust her forward into the final round.
She has her brand of supporters on the continent and has been congratulated by anti-EU politicians like Dutch MP Geert Wilders who, with his Freedom Party, is a leading anti-immigration voice in Europe.
The prevailing environment is on her side due to radical tendencies in the country and elsewhere in the neighborhood, but history is not. Previously, when her father ran for office in 2002 and achieved an unexpected second position in the first round, he was overwhelmingly defeated by Jacques Chirac.
Jean-Marie Le Pen got 16 percent in the first round against Chirac's 19 percent. But in the run-off, Chirac swept away the polls with 82 percent of the votes against less than 18 percent by Le Pen.
Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm
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