Last modified on 30 May 2022
On April 23rd, the French will go to the polls for the first round of the presidential elections. They will have to choose their preferred candidate from among the 11 candidates vying to become the new President of the Republic. Here are some answers to help explain elections to children.
What's the point of being President?
This is a question that comes up often, especially during election times. It is therefore important to explain to children that France is a democratic republic, a country where the people choose "their leaders," the first of whom is the President.
Since 1962, the French have voted directly to elect their President. He is elected to serve all French citizens: he chooses his Prime Minister, ensures that the laws are enforced, and does everything in his power to protect the country and its people. However, he cannot act arbitrarily: he must respect the Constitution, a set of rules decided and voted on by the people in 1958.
Who is running?
For the past few weeks, the final list of candidates has been known. Children are now hearing about Marine Le Pen, François Fillon, Emmanuel Macron, Benoît Hamon, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and others. These political figures have put themselves forward as candidates for the presidency: most represent a political party (The Republicans for Fillon or the Socialist Party for Hamon), while others represent new movements like "En Marche!" or are more independent, like Jean Lassalle. They have two months to convince the French to vote for them in the presidential campaign. To do this, they will debate, compare their ideas, and make an impression on the public with striking statements. This is therefore the best way to learn about each candidate's ideas, what they hope to implement for the country during their five-year presidency, and the relationships they wish to establish with different countries around the world.
What do right and left mean?
In France, two major political forces vie to govern the country: the right and the left. This distinction dates back to the French Revolution: supporters of the King sat on the right side of the Assembly, while those who supported him sat on the left. Today, the right and the left are represented by two political parties—that is, a group of people who share the same opinions and the same vision for governing the country: the Republicans (right) and the Socialist Party. Although a growing number of people believe the two parties are moving closer together, differences still exist, reflected in their presidential platforms. On the right, the focus is on guaranteeing greater freedom and promoting free enterprise. For the left, the state must intervene in daily life to reduce the gap between rich and poor, thereby fostering equal opportunities.
Today, the traditional left/right divide is increasingly being superseded by a new opposition between those who wish to remain in the European Union and open borders, and those who want to rebuild them. This new opposition no longer simply represents a right or a left, but rather a new political party structure, as evidenced by the emergence of this particular presidential campaign.
Who votes?
To vote, you must have French nationality, be at least 18 years old, be registered on the electoral lists and be in possession of your civic rights, that is to say the right to vote, to be elected etc. The difference between the first and second rounds of elections In 15 days, your child will see you vote twice. Don't forget to explain that all French citizens over 18 with a voter registration card will vote for the first time on April 23rd. If a candidate receives more than 501 votes, they will become President. In reality, the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the second round on May 7th. At that point, the French will have a choice between these two candidates. The one who receives the most votes will win. will become President for 5 years, until 2022.
To learn more: http://www.1jour1actu.com/election-presidentielle-2017/
Aucun commentaire