Nine out of ten municipalities voted for the National Rally (RN) in the European elections. France has never experienced such a plebiscite for the extreme right. A few days before the legislative elections, what are the RN’s chances of taking power? The magazine 15 Minutes followed the campaign in Haut-Doubs, in neighboring France.
“The right and the left came and filled their pockets while they don’t give a damn about us. So why not change?” This voter of the National Rally will not be convinced by the traditional parties. Like 28% of voters in Pontarlier, he voted RN during the European elections.
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28% in Pontarlier, 40% in Frasne for the RN
A few kilometers further, on the TGV Lyria line, in Frasne, the RN vote even reached 40%. “In our village, people are rather moderate,” explains mayor Philippe Alpy, member of the Horizons party (center right), “but we are currently experiencing a significant reversal of the populations in our territory, due to the proximity and the attraction of Switzerland. Many people from the north and south of France settle here.ls often work in security professions, have little higher education. We don’t have much control over this electorate and the extremes are rising.
Historically, the Haut-Doubs region votes for the so-called traditional right. The outgoing MP and Les Républicains candidate, Annie Genevard, is the favorite of the ballot. For the RN, the objective is to push it towards a second round. It is the former police officer Florianne Jeandenand who wears the colors of the RN. For her, the restoration of order, security and the question of immigration are essential points of the program: “We live in France, so if we come here, we must adopt our culture. Those who come and benefit only aid, no, we do not agree.”
The challenge from the left
At the Pontarlier market, activists from the left alliance try to blockade. “There was an effect of astonishment on the evening of the European elections,” says the candidate of the New Popular Front, Matthieu Cassez. Since then, this agricultural engineer has worked tirelessly and tried to convince as many people as possible, but he has to deal with a divisive leader. “I would have voted for the Popular Front if it weren’t for Mélenchon,” asserts a resident. “He thinks he’s Fidel Castro. Between him, Bardella and Le Pen, there’s no difference, they’re all dictators.”
And the candidate acknowledges: “There were some clumsiness, some inappropriate outbursts of anger and that is a turn-off here in rural areas.”
As the first round of elections approaches, a poll by the Ipsos institute shows the RN winning, but without a majority, with 31.5% of voting intentions. For left-wing activist Kaina Auray, a total victory for the far right would be final: “If the National Rally wins with an absolute majority and enters Matignon? I’m out! I’m coming to your place in Switzerland.”
>> The blues of the Macronists on the eve of the legislative elections in France, in the 12:30:
Cédric Guigon and Joëlle Cachin
