Ah, the subtle charm of senatorial elections, which sometimes result in the underhanded maneuvers for which our Republic is known… In this election, it is quite common for a candidate who seems assured of a strong majority in their district to be outmaneuvered by an outsider… The result of a discreet yet effective “kick of the mule” reflecting a “jacquerie,” a settling of political scores. There are plenty of examples, even in our department…
As the grand electors are about to propel candidates to the Palace of Luxembourg, this last election of 2017 presents itself in a very unique way. It is the logical outcome of the recent legislative elections, which sent 313 LREM deputies out of 577 to the Assembly.
Thus, this time we will not witness a battle between the right and the left, as both parties are reeling from their spring defeats. No, it will be more like little murders among “friends,” a scenario that should allow independent personalities, not necessarily affiliated but well established in their constituencies, to create surprises.
Therefore, there will inevitably be among the elected a few unexpected candidates among the 171 seats up for grabs, representing half of the Upper House’s seats… Will the new executive find enough allies after the vote? It’s uncertain; only 29 senators have joined La République En Marche. While some polls suggest that around ten pro-Macron senators might join this small group, it won’t make a large battalion.
Especially since incumbent senators did not appreciate the proposal to abolish the parliamentary reserve (150 million euros). They use this windfall to support various local projects, enabling them to secure the support of a mayor who is also a grand elector.
Under these conditions, it’s difficult to obtain the 3/5ths majority in Parliament that would allow the government to “peacefully” implement the announced institutional reforms.
The new grand electors supporting the government are often taking their first steps in politics. These representatives of civil society do not have the backing of the “established,” from whom they have little to expect, other than hoping that these seasoned figures might also want to unseat the incumbents.
Jean-Michel Chevalier, Les Petites Affiches
