in Lyon, the NUPES label held a disinterested youth
In Lyon, in a city which brings together the 4 least abstentionist constituencies of the Rhône and where the NUPES leads the debates, the disinterest of young people in politics punctuates this between-two rounds of legislative elections. Despite clear support for the united left, young voters are the least affected by the elections. Reportage.
Under a blazing sun, the place of comedy is struggling to fill up this Friday, June 17. The few passers-by prefer to escape the heat and head towards the first corner of shade they see. Young people are also rare in this square, just as they were rare during the first round of the legislative elections last Sunday. In Lyon, the union of the left dominated the debates by winning three of the four constituencies of the city. Only the outgoing deputy Anne Brugnera, well established in the 4th constituency, was able to resist the ecologist Benjamin Badouard, who nevertheless finished less than 4 points behind her by winning 31.72% of the vote.
At the national level, an Ipsos Sopra-Steria poll showed that 42% of 18-24 year olds decided to vote for Nupes led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon.logic” for Lucille, who takes a short lunch break near the Opera. The 26-year-old young woman voted for NUPES in the first round, bringing her voice to Aurélie Gries, candidate for the 1st constituency and qualified in the second round. ..
A young vote driven by ecology
For this young voter, it was the label that won out over the candidate. Instinctively, she voted for the united left because “cis the last solution to save ourselves from the catastrophe that awaits us“, she says. Choosing to abstain each time an election has been presented to her in the past, the young woman has decided to vote this year.”It was not Mélenchon who motivated me, but rather the fact that the ecological cause was put on the front of the stage. If we do not act, we are clearly going into the wall“, she argues.
“We are still taken for idiots. Macron tries a greener speech, but we know that it is only to attract our votes. Mélenchon also you will tell me, mbut we must try and we will see. It can’t be worse“, Lucille, 26 years old
Without saying “concerned“Through politics, she still scrutinizes the slippages and positions taken by the current president. So many elements that convinced her choice last Sunday.”Jout bother me at Macron. He doesn’t say anything and I don’t trust him, I don’t feel considered by this man.” she shouts. On several occasions, she evokes the deep rejection she feels for politics and its representatives. “We are still taken for idiots. Macron tries a greener speech, but we know that it is only to attract our votes. Mélenchon also you will tell me“, she admits, mbut we must try and we will see. It can’t be worse“.
Vote on the label
At the Place de la Bourse, Malik, 25, says to himself “interested“by politics, not by conviction but rather by”awareness“.”I am not politicized and even less a partisan of a political family. But last Sunday, I voted for the outgoing member of my constituency because I find myself in his speech” develop, a bit hesitant. The advertising student in a school in the 9th arrondissement admits to being “partially“detached from politics and the sequence of legislative elections. He also has some difficulty remembering the name he slipped into the ballot box during the first round.”Basically it’s NUPES, a guy with white hair. I didn’t know him at all“, remembers the one who is registered in the 2nd constituency and who, without remembering it distinctly, voted for Hubert Julien-Laferrière, who came first in the 2nd constituency.
“A total rejection” of politics
Direction Place Bellecour, where the stifling heat continues to be felt. Sitting on a bench right next to a tree, Pierre-Alain takes advantage of the only corner of shade offered by this square. Aged 32, the real estate agent has only voted once in his life, during the presidential election in 2012. What is immediately striking about the Lyonnais is the total disinterest he shows towards – with respect to politics. “I never got interested in it. I know it’s important to vote but it pisses me off. To be honest, I don’t think I’m even on any list anymore.” he admits. As a reminder, it is the young people who have traveled the least to the polling stations. Sociologically on the left, the 18-24 age group shunned the ballot box at 69%. Worse still, among 25-34 year olds, abstention is at its peak and climbs to 71%. “I zap the subject, he adds, everything that hovers around politics doesn’t really speak to me. I have a total rejection of it and I don’t want to force myself to be interested in it“.
“It is monumental and disturbing. It is above all on us young people that this quinquennium will be focused. It’s a shame to lose control of choices that concern us“, Willem 24 years old
A little further on, Willem is smoking his cigarette before going back to work. A law student at the University of Lyon 3, he is the opposite of Pierre-Alain when it comes to voting. He always went to the polls when he could. For the legislative elections, the 24-year-old young man made a power of attorney with his parents because he is registered in the Loire. “J“I voted for NUPES but I am by far what is happening in politics”, observe the young man. A paradoxical choice according to him since he will have explained voted Macron in the presidential election. “Its program is economically balanced. It made more sense to vote for a government that seeks stability. How logical to vote for a more left-wing assembly in order to balance the powers. Especially since NUPES has a program which, in my opinion, is broadly feasible” he analyzes.
When it comes to the abstention rate among young people, the student reveals: “It is monumental and disturbing. It is above all on us young people that this quinquennium will be focused. It’s a shame to lose control of choices that concern us”. While it reached a record in the first round (52.2%), the expected abstention rate for the second round of the legislative elections will probably give a new boost to the candidates Together and Nupes.
Read also: Legislative: “voting is useless”, spite and dismay before a second round promised to abstention, report to Minguettes