DID YOU SEE THE VOTER?

In 2002 Jacques Chirac won the French presidential election with an impressive 82% score (second ballot). Unfortunately, in the first ballot no candidate, including Monsieur Chirac, had gained at least 20% of popular vote. The socialist prime minister and challenger got a tiny 16%. Electoral participation, from the USA to the case of European Parliament (2004), is a worrying issue. Briefly: a critical mass of non voters, plus a proliferation of minimal and somewhat eccentric movements without any chance to win.

A seminar managed by Governance focused three or four remarkable aspects. Neopolitics is often misunderstood among old parties. Brand loyalty is declining. High dispersion of consent becomes a rule, rather than the exception. Global fears and local answers jointly prevail.

In Britain Tony Blair saved the flat at 10, Downing Street, deprived of hot support. In Germany Angela Merkel and SPD resigned themselves to their “ménage à deux” since the electorate gave nobody a clear majority. The Italian desk provides extra fun for cynical columnists. Silvio Berlusconi faces a good deal of objections, whereas a magmatic centre-left coalition drives cloud formations over Romano Prodi and alternative leaders. Current research sensationally tells both challengers and incumbents lose ground. Is customer satisfaction turning into a subzero-sum game?

Italian Political Surveys