Phew.
Five more years of Macron, the worst-elected President of the Fifth Republic.
41.8% for the far-right in 2022. 24% higher than 2002. 9% higher than 2017. 28% abstention. The highest since Pompidou was elected a month after de Gaulle’s resignation in April, 1969 – and a year after the seven-week revolution we call May 68.
So. The result.
For Marine Le Pen, in her “consolation” speech: a “victoire éclatante” after “two weeks of unfair, brutal and violent methods similar to those suffered by the French people on a daily basis.”
For Jean-Luc Mélenchon? “Very good news for the unity of our people” but “my thoughts turn to the future victims of this situation, the worn-out people who will retire three years from now, the people caught by the throat financially who will not see prices frozen, the people who know what a crime Mr. Macron's ecological inaction is.”
For Emmanuel Macron? Five more years—one final term. And the honour of being the worst-elected President of the Fifth Republic.
Five more years. Then what? Then who? Edouard Phillipe? Marion Maréchal? Eric Zemmour? Or some new, unknown, unexpected golden boy, girl, transgender or genderqueer?
Phew.