French Young Voters Who Dislike Both Macron and Le Pen

French university students are protesting in front of Sorbonne University in Paris on the 14th (local time). On this day, hundreds of university students in Paris and Nancy demonstrated to express their dissatisfaction with the presidential election.
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] "Sorbonne has taken over the world of Macron and Le Pen."

On the 14th (local time), a banner with this message was hung at Sorbonne University in Paris, France. According to the AP News Agency, hundreds of French university students occupied major universities including Sorbonne, erected barricades, and held protests that day. At Sciences Po Paris, students blocked the main gate with barricades made from discarded cans and banners. Paris police reported multiple protests and lockdowns at several universities that day.

The protests stem from dissatisfaction with the French presidential election. Students criticized both candidates who advanced to the runoff. The centrist incumbent President Emmanuel Macron, who ranked first, and the far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, who ranked second, were both accused of being insufficient in supporting the poor and protecting the environment. They shouted, "We are all anti-fascists," while distributing flyers. Progressive voters view Le Pen, who advocates reducing immigration and Islamic customs and strengthening police powers, as a dangerous figure. Macron is seen as a president for the wealthy due to his pro-business policies.

Among the students participating in the protests were many supporters of Jean-Luc M?lenchon, who placed third in the first round of the presidential election on the 10th. M?lenchon, running as the candidate of La France Insoumise (LFI), received 22% of the vote in the first round. He narrowly missed advancing to the runoff by just 1.1 percentage points behind Le Pen, who placed second.

A student at Sciences Po Paris said, "Young people are interested in social issues such as environmental problems, anti-racism, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights," adding, "We desperately need a candidate who represents us." The student also said, "In the second round, we have to vote only for the two right-wing candidates whom we consider enemies of workers and youth," and "We cannot accept the fact that for another five years we have to endure environmental pollution and austerity."

French police are firing tear gas to disperse protesters.
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

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According to the American political media outlet Politico, voters under 34 years old showed the most support for M?lenchon in the first round. M?lenchon received 36% support among voters aged 18-25 and 33% among those aged 25-34, ranking first in both generations. In contrast, Macron received 24% among 18-25-year-olds and 21% among 25-34-year-olds. Le Pen's support in these two age groups was 16% and 25%, respectively.

Among voters aged 25-34, Macron's support ranked third. Politico interpreted this as reflecting young voters' skeptical views on European integration. Le Pen has publicly advocated for France's withdrawal from the European Union (EU) in the past. Although she is not strongly pushing for EU exit in this election to soften her far-right image, analysts warn that EU integration could be at risk if Le Pen is elected. M?lenchon also holds skeptical views about the EU.

Macron led among voters aged 64 and older with an overwhelming 40% of the vote, surpassing Le Pen and M?lenchon. Among voters aged 64 and above, Le Pen and M?lenchon received 17% and 12% support, respectively.

Le Pen ranked first among voters aged 35-49 and 50-64, receiving 27% and 28% of the vote, respectively. However, Macron and M?lenchon both recorded support in the 20% range in these age groups, showing no significant difference.

Young voters' dissatisfaction with Macron and Le Pen is also evident in voter turnout. In a survey conducted by polling firm Ipsos from the 6th to the 9th, ahead of the first round, about 20% of voters aged 35 and older said they would not vote. In contrast, 42% of voters aged 18-24 and 46% of voters aged 25-34 said they would not vote.

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