The night of the 22th of april 2017 came with a surprise for those who have been watchnig the french elections. Emanuel Macron and Marie LePen were the candidates who took the ticket for the second round of the presidential elections, leaving the candidates who had the support of the traditional parties out of the game. For me, there has been a second surprise too. Most of the Macron's opponents gave him their support for the second round. This wasn't because they suddenly became his allies but rather because they recognized that LePen would be a far worse president for France. This kind of support is understandable. However one presidential candidate, Melanchon, chose to send a message to his voters which sounded like "vote whoever you like". Under normal circumstances this would be reasonable. Indeed, I asked one french friend of mine and his interpretation of Melanchon's message was "pick the one you want, cause they're both crap and there's no one more worth than the other". I asked also another of his supporters if she is going to vote in the second round and she replied "no because they are both stupid". But is it valid to present both Macron and LePen as equally stupid candidates? Is there absolutely no difference between them? I would say no.
I am not aware of the french presidential candidates' programmes or my knowledge is rather superficial. Therefore I cannot judge them for their differences. Fortunately I do know that Macron is pro European Union (EU) while LePen is against it, even questioning whether France should be member of the EU. Taking this into consideration I will examine one of my friend's arguments, putting it in global context. My friend thinks: "I heard of my own ears people say "I'll vote macron because I want to travel easily in Europe"... But who cares about privileged people's difficulties in travelling across Europe when it comes to change the fate of 9 million of poor people in the country". Nice. Let’s assume that travelling easily around Europe is not of importance and Macron doesn't really care about the 9 million of poor people as he is blamed to be neoliberal. How then these 9 million poor people would be better protected? Within EU or out of it?
In the EU there is an ongoing discussion about the establishment of the “minimum basic income” that is to say a welfare policy which guarantees a minimum income for those who are below the threshold of poverty. This discussion will take years until it becomes common european policy. But does anybody believes that this policy will ever arrive in the UK after Brexit? Will the British poor ever enjoy a minimum basic income? I rather doubt it. Consequently it is maybe safer for the French poor in the EU rather out of. It is more sound to vote for Macron who wants to bring the european project forward than LePen who wants to abandon it.
All this being said, I don’t want to present Macron as the ideal French president, neither have I elaborated in this post a number of reasons for which I would never vote for LePen.
Next sunday, the 7th of may 2017, I vote for Macron (even if I can’t) with good conscience. Actually I vote for France in a better EU!
