French Presidential Runoff 2012 – Why It Makes A Mockery Of Democracy

So the French 2012 presidential second round runoff is happening this weekend.

I know France has had this system for years but it only occurred to me this week what a farce the whole thing is.

The whole idea of having 2 candidates going head to head in second round, in my eyes shows that France does not actually have a democratic system.

The French “democratic” system is set up not in order for people to elect their own representatives into government so their beliefs, philosophies and wishes are represented. I repeat. The French “democratic” system is designed not to do this.

The entire French presidential election system is designed to do one thing and one thing only, the get the French to vote for a “winner”. Regardless of their political beliefs.

Let me break it down.

In the first round of the French presidential election in 2012 no single candidate had an absolute majority so the “democratic” system then dictated that the 2 leading presidential candidates from the first round should then go to a second round in order to establish an absolute majority.

The president of France is directly elected by universal suffrage in two stages of voting. All parties take part in the first round, usually promoting their own candidates. However, presidential hopefuls are required to present 500 endorsements signed by elected officials in order to secure a place on the ballot. If no candidate obtains an absolute majority of all valid votes cast in the first round, then the top two candidates qualify for a runoff election, in which the candidate with the largest number of votes is elected to office for a term of five years.

The question you have to ask yourself is why?

In the first round the French people have voted for the candidates they believe best represent them and their interests.

But if this does not give a single candidate the French “democratic” system then goes into a second round.

I mean, why?

What exactly is the point of going to a second round?

People have voted for who they believe is the candidate, what does the French “democratic” system hope to achieve by having a second round?

Are people supposed to change their mind and vote for someone else? And if so, how, in any definition of the word, is this democratic?

I put it to you that it is not democratic, it is simply a way of picking a winner and be damned with what you as a French voter actually believe in.

So the long and the short of the situation is this.

The French political system does not respect the will of the French people. If the French people vote for a candidate that does not finish in the top two, then they are supposed to change their mind and vote for someone else.

In my opinion this shows a complete disrespect of the French electorate.

That the French political system expects people to simply change their mind for the second round shows a complete disdain for the will, the beliefs and the vote of the French people.

It is saying that the whole Presidential election system is a game and that people’s vote for a political candidate means nothing if it does not lead to an absolute majority. Like a majority is the only thing that matters and not people’s actual beliefs.

If no candidate gets a majority then it should lead to a coalition, that is what the people have asked for with their vote.

The French presidential election system is saying “good voter, but unlucky for you your candidate didn’t win, now vote for someone else”

Personally I believe when someone votes for a candidate, that is important and should be taken seriously and that my vote should be respected.

Just because my candidate didn’t gain an absolute majority in the first round does not mean that I should be asked to change my mind and vote for a “winner”. I have placed my vote, that is my opinion, and should not be asked to vote again for a compromise candidate who does not represent my interest as well as me first choice. Why should I?

And it is not just the French presidential elections that are run like this. While I was doing the research for this article I also discovered the all politicians in the French National Assembly are voted for in the same way.

The National Assembly is composed of 577 members elected every five years in single-member constituencies by the runoff voting system. Candidates who obtain both an absolute majority of valid votes cast and a vote total equal to at least one quarter of the registered electorate are elected in the first round. Otherwise, a runoff election is held among candidates polling a number of votes greater than or equal to one-eight (12.5%) of the electorate; if fewer than two candidates meet this requirement, the runoff is held between the top two candidates. In the second round, the candidate that obtains the largest number of votes is elected to office.

I am trying to think if there is a more insulting way for the French voter to be treated.

Personally, I do no think there is. I do not think that being asked to change my mind in a second round of voting, just for the sake of choosing a “winner” can be any more demeaning.

I know nothing about Le Pen but I will say this. She is exactly correct when she says we will cast a blank ballot in the second round.

What else should she do? Decide to vote for a competitor whose views do not agree with her own?

Any serious candidate would do exactly as she had done. It is the only respectful thing she can do for herself and for the people who voted for her.

Political beliefs and people’s votes are serious things. People should not be asked to change their mind to simply vote for a winner. The whole situation demeans the democratic system and the French people. In my opinion, I would love to hear yours.

Get the latest updates in your inbox