The pandemic factor in the rivalry between E. Macron and M. Le Pen in the Presidential Elections in France in 2022
https://doi.org/10.53658/RW2022-2-2(4)-76-97
Abstract
The ongoing French president E. Macron and the leader of the right-wing leader of the right-wing National Union Party M. Le Pen are the main candidates for the upcoming French presidential election in 2022, especially in the case of a second round of voting. The purpose of this article is to estimate the influence of pandemic factor in the rivalry between the two candidates and a possible turnout of the upcoming election. The article focuses especially on two aspects of the two politicians’ rivalry: Macron’s controversial actions against the pandemic, which have had a negative impact on his rating and Le Pen’s attempts to use the pandemic to broaden her electorate and increase her chances for the election.
To achieve the goals, statistical methods, work with sociological surveys, as well as a comparative analysis of the views of two politicians on specific issues were used. It was concluded that some of E. Macron’s decisions to combat the pandemic did have a negative, but not decisive impact on his rating. M. Le Pen, on the contrary, having adapted some of the most important points of her program during the coronavirus period, did not offer qualitatively new ideas to combat the pandemic, and experts continue to determine her as a right-wing populist politician with contradictory statements. It attracts new followers, however, if M. Le Pen enters the second round against E. Macron, the scenario of the 2017 elections is likely to repeat.
About the Authors
E. V. Khakhalkina
National Research Tomsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
KHAKHALKINA Elena V. DSc (Hist.). Professore, Department of Modern, Contemporary History and International Relations.
36, prospect Lenina, Tomsk, 634050, Russian Federation.
K. A. Kotovich
National Research Tomsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
KOTOVICH Kseniya A. Student.
36, prospect Lenina, Tomsk, 634050, Russian Federation.
References
1. Abramov A.V. and others (2010), Pandemia COVID-19: the End of the Familiar World?, Journal «Moscow Region State University», №. 2, pp. 2-83. (In Russian)
2. Badaeva A.S. (2021), Marine Le Pen and her Glass Ceiling, Political Science Issues, 10(74), V. 11, pp. 2876-2885. (In Russian)
3. Badaeva A.S. (2020), The Pandemic Strategies of the Far-Right Parties in Western Europe, Outlines of Global Transformations: Politics, Economics, Law, vol. 13, no 5, pp. 94–113. (In Russian)
4. Chikhachev A. (2021), The Covid-19 Pandemic and the Political Situation in France before 2022 Elections, Contemporary Europe. Social and political research journal, No 5(105), pp. 79-89. (In Russian)
5. Gérard Courtois (2017), 43 % des électeurs de Macron ont voté pour exprimer leur opposition à Le Pen, Le Monde.
6. Lapina N.Yu. (2021), France in the Era of Global Transformations, Current problems of Europe, №. 3 (111), pp. 7-27. (In Russian)
7. Le Pen M. (2020), Le livre noir du coronavirus. Du fiasco à l’abîme, Rassemblement National, 168 p.
8. Naumova N. N., Falaleev P. I. (2021), Covid-19 Pandemic and its Impact on the Political Situation in France (spring-summer 2020), Annual of French Studies, V. 54, pp. 181-212. (In Russian)
9. Oskolkov P. (2021), “Normal Turbulence” and Potential Change: Right-wing Populism and Nationalism in Europe (September-November 2021), European Union: facts and comments, pp. 74-77. (In Russian)
10. Oskolkov P. V. (2020), Populism and Coronavirus: How is the Pandemic Affecting Right-Wing Populist Parties in Europe?, Institute of Europe Russian Academy of Sciences, Analytic Note No. 15 (No. 198). (In Russian)
11. Petrova M., Ogorodov M., Tarasova (2019), From the National Front for National Union Party: the Basic Directions of Thransformation of the Discourse of the Party of Marine Le Pen, Modern Science: actual problems of theory & practice». Series of “humanity”, №. 8-2, pp. 89-94. (In Russian)
12. Rubinsky U. (2021), France: Shadows of the Past or Ghosts of the Future?, Analytic notes of Institute of Europe Russian Academy of Sciences, №. 14, pp. 1-5. (In Russian)
13. Rubinsky Y. (2019), France: «The Second Act» of E. Macron [Franciya: «vtoroj akt» E. Makrona], European Analytics, №. 32, pp. 1-7. (In Russian)
14. Taran E. A. (2021), On the Eve of the Elections in France, Heritage of V.G. Korolenko. Humanism strategies. Collection of materials of the Third All-Russian scientific-practical conference with international participation, pp. 471-475. (In Russian)
15. Vasilenko S. B. (2021), Political Priorities of French Citizens at the Current Stage, Izvestiya Tula State University. Humanitarian sciences, №. 2, pp. 80-86. (In Russian)
16. Zakharova E. A. (2020), From National Front to National Ressemblement in France: Rebranding the Party Image, RUDN Journal of Political Science, 22 (3), pp. 475–486. (In Russian)
Review
For citations:
Khakhalkina E.V., Kotovich K.A. The pandemic factor in the rivalry between E. Macron and M. Le Pen in the Presidential Elections in France in 2022. Russia & World: Sc. Dialogue. 2022;(2):76-97. https://doi.org/10.53658/RW2022-2-2(4)-76-97
Views:
356
Email this article 