Despite the Lépine contest of interpretations surrounding abstention, it is necessary to seriously consider this issue. Who abstained? Politically, it was mainly those among us who wanted to “overthrow the system.” According to Ifop’s analysis, 71% of Marine Le Pen’s voters in 2017 and 75% of J-L. Mélenchon’s voters did not vote. By far, this is the largest proportion of non-voters.
Socio-demographically: young people and the poor. It’s terrible, but that’s the reality: abstention records are being broken with these two groups, exactly those who should be anchored to democracy (because they are the future, because this political system is the only one that gives equal weight to citizens’ voices, regardless, for example, of their wealth). However, 82% of those under 35 did not vote: this is 15 points above the national average and 29 points above the abstention rate of those aged 65 and over… and in the 10 poorest cities in France (Roubaix, St-Denis,…) the average abstention exceeds 80%. It’s more than a little unfortunate.
What reasons are given for not voting? According to the Opinionway study – 33% of non-voters say they “were not interested in the campaign,” 26% think their “vote won’t change anything,” 20% declare “politics doesn’t interest them,” 16% cite another reason (Father’s Day?). The only political reason given: “to protest against the way the country is run” accounts for only 19%.
What we conclude from this is that the dissenting segment of the public is now abandoning the realm of democratic expression… they are no longer interested, they no longer believe it changes anything. “Anti-system” parties are now unable to channel their anger/despair by recycling it within the debate.
In the absence of creating elected officials, abstention turns our politicians into analysts and all have an explanation: the “health situation” for Attal, a political class “disconnected from the French” for Darmanin, the privatization of the distribution of electoral propaganda (?) for Mélenchon, the lack of knowledge “about the competencies of the regions” for Bardella (nice coming from an RN member who has continually campaigned on security, an area not within the regions/departments’ competencies).
