To get an idea of the different candidates for the Elysée, the Toulonnais had to make do with their television or the internet. General trend or local specificity?
Political figures and Claire Sécail, researcher at the CNRS and author of Election rallies: scenes and behind the scenes of the 2017 presidential campaignwe explain the reasons.
One big meeting
The only one who chose a big meeting in Toulon is Éric Zemmour. The candidate filled the Zenith on March 6. Christian Michel is the regional coordinator of Reconquête!: “After the signing of his book last September, I asked his campaign team to bring him back. They accepted. It was a great success, there was an impressive fervor. I think the voters need to see the candidate in person.”
The activist also underlines a need on the part of Zemmour to make himself known. “He has only been in politics for four months. It’s very little.”
The reflection of a national situation
Toulon is not the only forgotten of this presidential campaign. “The meeting tool was deployed much less than usual”, explains Claire Sécail of the CNRS.
The health crisis has a lot to do with it. “At the very beginning of the campaign, there was the problem of gauges. And more generally, the population is still reluctant to large gatherings.”
The researcher also evokes a demobilization effect. “The campaign is less interesting. The risk is therefore not to fill the rooms. However, in the meetings, “making numbers” is essential. It is a question of showing its power of unification.
The political sociology of the city
“The great majority of campaign rallies are organized in cities where the electorate is conquered”, says Claire Sécail. In this case Toulon is largely on the right.
This may explain the absence of left-wing presidential candidates meeting in the city. A mistake according to Robert Alfonsi, historical figure of the local PS. “The left has never overlooked Toulon. It’s stupidity, precisely because it’s a difficult land, electorally. If you only go to the easy places, it’s useless.”
Among the explanations put forward he suggests a “lack of local relays.” Regarding the absence of Valérie Pécresse, Claire Sérail sees it as a “possible consequence of Mayor Hubert Falco’s support for Emmanuel Macron”
A campaign strategy?
For Laure Lavalette, spokesperson for Marine Le Pen and municipal councilor in Toulon, the Rassemblement National candidate did not hold a meeting in the capital of Var by choice.
“It is a desire on his part to go to meet the forgotten territories of politics, to go to remote places.”
Marine Le Pen still went to Arsenal last February to present her defense program. “And on this occasion, she met many Toulonnais.”
Representatives who do the job
Admittedly, the big meetings have deserted Toulon. However, the “VRP” of the candidates ensure the field campaign. A few examples: this Thursday, Aurélie Trouvé, from La France Insoumise, is organizing a public meeting to develop Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s proposals.
On the metropolis, this Monday evening, at La Garde, Ian Brossat was at the podium to support Fabien Roussel. Laurent Wauquiez, he went to La Garde to preach the good word of Valérie Pécresse on March 7. A few days before, Hervé Morin had done the same at La Seyne.
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