"I couldn't stand idly by and let the far right rule our country," breathes Julien, 22, a film student.
The outgoing president finally emerged victorious with 58.2% of the vote this Sunday evening.
However, Julien's speech reflects that of many young people from the east of Paris who voted for Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the first round.
In the 20th arrondissement, the candidate LFI (La France insoumise) won 47.17% of the vote, almost double the score of Emmanuel Macron (23.71%) and the largest percentage in the capital.
Among the young people who chose the Insoumis in the first round, the last two weeks have been littered with questions.
Vote for Emmanuel Macron in the hope of not seeing the National Rally win the presidential election?
Abstain from voting so as not to betray one's opinions?
Vote for Marine Le Pen in opposition to the Head of State?
Read alsoThe highlights of the evening of the second round
For Yasmine, a young active 24 year old, the choice was not obvious.
It took him a long thought before finally resolving and slipping into the ballot box a ballot with the name of the current president.
“I really hesitated a lot.
After the results of the first round, I immediately thought that I categorically refused to vote for Macron and that I was therefore going to abstain from voting.
Then, by dint of thinking about it and hearing the inconceivable proposals of Marine Le Pen, I said to myself that I would be too sorry if she became president, ”she laments.
Others like Rémi, 21, made the conscious choice to abstain so as not to “go against his convictions”.
“It's unimaginable for me to vote for one or the other.
We may say that the far right is dangerous,
A significant abstention
And he is far from the only one to have made this decision.
Participation is a significant component of this election.
Indeed, for this second round of the presidential election, the abstention rate is estimated at 28%.
A score up two points compared to the 2017 election. It should be remembered that during the first ballot, the turnout in Paris averaged 78.33%, while in the 20th arrondissement it stagnated at 76, 44%.
Regarding abstention among those under 34 at the national level, it reached 40% according to an Ipsos-Sopra Steria survey.
Martin, 25 years old and resident of the 20th arrondissement, receives some friends at his home this Sunday evening to watch the results live.
Sitting around a beer, the television on in the background, they calmly await the scores for the second round.
"I'm still a bit scared," admits Emilie.
As the results drop, applause in the tone of irony is released but they expected it.
"It was sure that he was going to pass, he was announced with 5 more points", affirms Martin.
At the same time he receives a message from his father: "Phew", he reads, laughing.
Here, everyone had voted Jean-Luc Mélenchon in the first round and went to give their vote to Emmanuel Macron this Sunday.
“I hesitated to go and vote but I've been telling myself for a week that I was going to go because it's really the people around Marine Le Pen who scare me.
She has become too consensual.
On the other hand, I did not want people from the Gud (Union Defense Group), for example, to come to power, ”he adds.
“I have the
seum
to have voted Macron, I hesitated until last week to go there.
I said to myself that she would never have a majority in the National Assembly, so not voting would have changed nothing in power.
But I don't at all want France to be associated with Marine Le Pen.
There are values to which I could not consent and, for me, not to vote is to consent, ”says Chloé for her part.
