They were - we were - 64% to opt for maintaining the first round of municipal elections on March 16, 2020 according to an Odoxa-Dentsu Consulting survey reported by Le Figaro.
If we look at [the official participation figures] (https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Resultats-et-suivi-des-taux-de-participation-au-premier-tour-des-elections-municipales-et-communautaires-2020) as relayed by the government, we are, all together, at a participation rate of 44.66% on these elections.
You can see me coming, backed by my scientific master's degree, I make the terrible subtraction: we would therefore have, give or take, 20% of the French people ready to send the others to war while the latter remain warmly confined as they watch democratic life unfold behind their screens. That said, it makes for cheap entertainment and we could really use some these days.
And what had to happen, happened. Each in his role, the complainers complain, the rejoicers rejoice. A consensus despite everything: the political parties agree that the second round will not take place.
Regarding the first round, opinions are more diverse. The delighted of both parties wish to see the results of the first round validated as quickly as possible and are worried about the invalidation of all the election results if the second round does not take place. The others ... you will have guessed by now.
The picture would not be complete without Agnès Buzyn, running for mayor of Paris, taken out of her functions as Health Minister for the occasion. She was furious that these elections took place despite her alerts to the government since January.
So, in summary, we take the Health Minister off her duties on the brink of a health crisis to send her, candidate for the leading party, to an election that she does not want to happen at all?
My headache just returned.
But the elections, nobody cared about those tonight. And that was to be expected.
Tonight, the President has spoken on our screens once more. We were punished, everyone confined in their rooms.
The French obviously did not understand that when given the remote control of the TV, it is only to report back the weather forecast to their parents who are too busy to watch themselves. Not to dwell in front of it.
This time, the tone is martial: it is obviously necessary to "raise awareness", so that everyone stays at home.
Europe closes its external borders. Transport is greatly reduced. It is not a big surprise. If there is one reason I was able to vote today, it's because I wasn't in a rush trying to get back home from the Netherlands, where I should have been.
The remote work instructions, if they were not already given, appear in the inboxes one after the other.
So now, I act like everyone else, I applaud with the others at the window where I already happened to find myself for a smoke - yes, this is the current situation we're in.
I should be able to get used to it, I have a homebody side to take a closer look at.
I still wonder whether I should not have abstained on Sunday. If I should not have gone to that elementary school.
Pretend I'm sick instead.