Written by Narjis El Asraoui Mara
Between the recent European elections and the upcoming legislative elections, politics is omnipresent in conversations. In Rainneville and Villers-Bocage, in the Somme, the residents we met easily confided in their concerns, which were diverse and illustrated the current divisions.
2:30 p.m., Thursday afternoon, the Rainneville bowling alley sees its regulars arrive. Between two games of pétanque, politics remains a topic of conversation.
Jean-Marie, a former worker, expresses his frustration: “We only talk about immigration, the National Front, but are we talking about workers like me who have worked all their lives and who now live on a pension of €1,100? We do not discuss these subjects, nor the increases in our electricity bills, etc.“
This dedicated voter shares his disenchantment: “I have always voted on the left, but you know today left, right, it’s the same thing, we’re a little disgusted“. Despite the disappointment, he will continue to vote, even if it means voting blank.
For others, like Bruno, 59, a construction worker, the question of retirement age is crucial: “Macron said he was going to do something for workers who have a difficult job, do they think we will work until the age of 70 in construction? They are sick ! I’m 59 years old, and I’m already crushed, I’m having an operation next week, I won’t last until I retire at 62.” He never voted: “thatIt doesn’t change anything, they do what they want, what’s the point of voting?”
In this town of 1,000 inhabitants, the National Rally list led by Jordan Bardella came first with 41.2% of the votes. A question that divides in this bowling alley. “Why not change, put someone else in power?” Bruno says. “But the National Front, they are not going to do anything for the workers, it is a party of the rich, all that interests them is to be well placed“, Jean-Marie retorts.
In front of the village bakery, Lysiane recounts her disenchantment: “Politics and me make two, I won’t hide from you that for some time now, I haven’t been going to vote. I voted until the last presidential elections, but now it’s over. I think we are too forgotten. I’m going to be 76, what do we do for old people? I find myself all alone, without a husband, with my physically disabled adult daughter to support. It’s me who fends for myself and I can’t get by, even though I’ve worked since the age of 14“. In her hands, some pastries, one of the rare little pleasures she allows herself.
His other concern: young people. “You see kids how they become because of the internet, adds Lysiane. You should put in security, you turn on the television, it’s just violence. That’s why young people become like that“.
In Villers-Bocage, north of Amiens, Luc discusses his concern about international issues: “cIt’s blowing up everywhere, and Macron is playing with Putin, it’s going to end in world war. Let him already take care of our problems. There is already no money in France, we are going to give billions abroad, to Ukraine“.
Nawel, a nurse of Moroccan origin, who arrived in France 35 years ago, has not been feeling good for a few weeks: “I get up every morning at 5 a.m. to go to work at the hospital. I am useful to society and when I see the National Front’s score, it hurts my heart. And now people are no longer ashamed to say that they vote for Le Pen or Bardella, but they are very happy that immigrants are there to take care of them. This racist and Islamophobic climate is difficult to live with.“.
Mariella and Julie, both 19, have contrasting views on politics. Mariella did not vote in the European elections: “I admit that for me the European Union is not very concrete, I didn’t feel concerned, I don’t even know if I am registered on the lists“
Julie, on the other hand, remains optimistic: “I’m going there because I think that politics can change things, particularly on environmental issues. I think it is urgent that we act on the climate. And if we young people don’t do it, nothing will change, because it doesn’t interest older people. Right now, I don’t even know if I want to have children, because if it means they grow up in an unlivable world, there’s no point“.
