Regional elections in France, turnout collapses
Regionals, France: Macron's party disappoints.
It does not break through Le Pen.
Record abstention, over 66%
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June 27, 2021 France returns to the polls with the specter of abstention. The turnout in the second round of the regional and provincial elections scheduled today was 12.66% at mid-day, practically the same level as the first round (12.22%) marked by a record decline in turnout. They are seven points less than in the regional elections of December 2015 (19.59%) and three points less than the provincial elections of March 2015 (15.72%), according to data released by the Ministry of the Interior.
A low mobilization, which one year after the presidential elections of 2022 confirms the fears of the eve. In the last week, from Prime Minister Jean Castex as from all political parties, heartfelt appeals have been raised to the voters to go to the polls.
The record abstention last Sunday therefore seems to be confirmed even today, with the exception of Corsica, and a slight increase in turnout in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur (Paca). It is here, in this border area with Italy, that Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National aims to conquer the first region in its history. Of the 13 French regions, Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur is the only one to see a duel that promises to be close between the so-called 'enemy brothers' Thierry Mariani (ex-Les Républicains who passed in the Rassemblement National) and Renaud Muselier (Les Républicains).
In 2015, in the second round of the regional, abstention was 41.59%. Last Sunday, two out of three voters snubbed the seats.
Like last Sunday, Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by his wife Brigitte, voted in Le Touquet, a seaside resort in the north-west of the country where he owns a house.