Macron and le pen how two outsiders defeated frances political elite
The 2017 French presidential election was a significant event in French politics, as it saw two outsiders, Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen, defeat the traditional political elite. Here's a brief overview of how they achieved this:
Emmanuel Macron:
Macron was a relatively unknown figure in French politics until he burst onto the scene in 2016. He was a former investment banker and economy minister in the Socialist government of François Hollande. Macron's rise to power was fueled by his charisma, his ability to connect with young voters, and his promise to shake up the traditional political establishment.
Macron's campaign was built around his "En Marche!" (On the Move!) movement, which aimed to bring together centrists, moderates, and left-leaning voters who were disillusioned with the traditional parties. He positioned himself as a centrist, pro-European, and pro-business candidate who could bring about change and reform.
Macron's campaign was marked by his use of social media, which allowed him to connect directly with voters and bypass traditional media outlets. He also benefited from the support of many young voters, who were attracted to his promise of change and his willingness to listen to their concerns.
Marine Le Pen:
Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Front (FN) party, was also an outsider in French politics. She had been involved in politics for many years, but her party had historically been marginalized and viewed as extremist.
Le Pen's campaign was built around her promise to "Take Back France" and restore national sovereignty. She positioned herself as a populist, anti-establishment candidate who would challenge the traditional political elite and defend French values.
Le Pen's campaign was marked by her use of anti-immigrant and anti-EU rhetoric, which resonated with many voters who were concerned about the impact of globalization and immigration on French society. She also benefited from the support of many working-class voters who felt that the traditional parties had abandoned them.
How they defeated the political elite:
Macron and Le Pen defeated the traditional political elite in several ways:
- Disillusionment with traditional parties: Many French voters were disillusioned with the traditional parties, which were seen as corrupt, ineffective, and out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people. Macron and Le Pen capitalized on this disillusionment by promising to bring about change and reform.
- New forms of communication: Macron's use of social media and Le Pen's use of anti-establishment rhetoric allowed them to connect directly with voters and bypass traditional media outlets. This gave them a significant advantage over the traditional parties, which were often seen as out of touch with the concerns of ordinary people.
- Populist appeal: Both Macron and Le Pen appealed to populist sentiments, promising to defend French values and restore national sovereignty. This resonated with many voters who felt that the traditional parties had abandoned them.
- Divided opposition: The traditional parties were divided and disorganized, which made it difficult for them to mount an effective challenge to Macron and Le Pen. The Socialists were weakened by internal divisions, while the Republicans were unable to agree on a single candidate.
In the end, Macron won the presidency with 66.1% of the vote in the runoff election, while Le Pen won 33.9%. The election marked a significant shift in French politics, as two outsiders defeated the traditional political elite and brought about a new era of uncertainty and change.