Third man in the presidential election, the candidate of the Popular Union gathered nearly 22% of the vote on Sunday. An improved score compared to 2017 but still insufficient.
On the Cirque d’Hiver program on Sunday evening, it was emotional loopings. An hour before the opening of the JT, on the forecourt of the Parisian theater, hope is more than ever in order. Like Edouard, 23, who is sipping a beer with two friends. “Of course we believe in it! exclaims the international relations student, flag of the Left Party (PG) in hand. This does not prevent a hint of irony: “The problem is that the fachos don’t forget to vote them either…”. In the crowd of rebellious supporters, often very young, we encourage each other by chanting the “tube” of the Yellow Vests: “We are here, we are here!” Even if Macron does not want to, we are here! “. Backstage at the Cirque, Gabriel Amard confides with a touch of solemnity: “If history is there, we will be ready”. For the son-in-law of Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who is also the leader of LFI in Isère, the “strong mobilization of working-class neighborhoods and youth” should allow the leader of the radical left to qualify on the wire.
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But when the ax falls at 8 p.m., when the photos of Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen appear on the screens, it’s grimace soup. The eyes mist up. Once again, Jean-Luc Mélenchon fails at the gates of the second round. Infuriating. Face closed, François Ruffin strolls through the village hall, carefully avoiding the strained microphones. Xavier Mathieu tries to cheer him up by grabbing him by the shoulders. “Yes you are disappointed, but the fight continues!, launches the ex-unionist of “Conti” to the Picard deputy. We made 20% without the greens, without the cocos (the communists) and without the bourgeois… We won! “. And if Manuel Bompard, the campaign manager, does not hide his disappointment, Anais Belouassa, she prefers to see the glass half full. “I’m very happy with what we’ve managed to do,” says the campaign’s General Secretary. Today, we are the future of the left! “.
See as well : Macron in the lead, Le Pen qualified, the official results map
These mixed feelings, Jean-Luc Mélenchon tries to reconcile them when he climbs on the stage, a little before 9 p.m. “Yes, it’s a disappointment. But we are proud of the work accomplished”, proclaims the candidate of the People’s Union in a speech with the accents of a farewell speech. Willingly lyrical, the deputy of Bouches-du-Rhône urges his supporters to follow the example of Sisyphus: “The stone falls down the ravine, we go up it. You are in a condition to lead the battle”. On condition, however, of not committing the “irreparable” by voting for Marine Le Pen in the second round. On this side, Jean-Luc Mélenchon can sleep peacefully. Many of his supporters say they are ready to strike at the ballot box or vote blank, like Edouard, the international relations student, who confided to us shortly before the announcement of the results: “If it’s Le Pen against Macron, for me, it will be abstention! “.
Read also: Jean-Luc Mélenchon (21.9%): “Not a single voice for Madame Le Pen!”
Photo caption: Xavier Mathieu tries to console François Ruffin, with tears in his eyes (credit William Smith).