The run-up to France’s 2017 presidential elections is unlike any in the past, with an
electorate confused by waning confidence in politicians, worried about security and distressed by chronic unemployment, a respected political researcher told the AAPA on March 28.
It’s the first presidential election to be held under a state of emergency, Sciences Po professor Pascal Perrineau told a well-attended event at the Falstaff Café on Place de la Bastille. Not only are people preoccupied with economic issues and unemployment, but terrorism and immigration are also weighing on voters’ minds, he said.
But, Perrineau says, people have no confidence in the ability of politicians to help them.
“Never has the mistrust in politics been as high as today,” Perrineau said. “At the same time they are passionate about the spectacle.”
As for France casting out all of its establishment politicians – Francois Hollande, Alain Juppé, Francois Fillon, and Manuel Valls – Perrineau said, “The French are satisfied with sweeping everyone away. We are revolutionaries. We are people who cut off heads!”
He added, “But, oh, then we feel anguish because we say: “Who is going to do the job now? We are surrounded by amateurs!” For example, Hamon, Macron and Le Pen.”
Perrineau noted if it’s a runoff between Macron and Le Pen, neither has majority representation in parliament or even the beginnings of legislative means needed to successfully govern.
-Jake Cigainero
Link to article by Kim Willshire:
http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-france-election-2017-story.html