The current majority voting system in the French National Assembly is being criticized for not representing the diverse opinions in French society. Many believe that urgent changes are needed to move towards a proportional representation system to ensure a fair and balanced representation of all political views. The current system, which grants all power to the winning party, allows minority groups to govern and change laws without considering the opinions of the majority. This has led to increasing dissatisfaction with the representation in the National Assembly and a rise in voter abstention, which poses a threat to democracy.
The current majority voting system has also been criticized for creating instability in public policies as decisions made on a minority basis face strong opposition and governments often face rejection by voters after five years. The system also encourages alliances in the second round of voting, fostering a confrontational approach that hinders the search for compromises to unite society. A survey conducted in December 2023 indicated that under the current majority voting system, the far-right Rassemblement national (RN) could potentially win an absolute majority of seats in the National Assembly with less than 30% of the vote. Over the past forty years, this system has helped underrepresent the far-right and allowed it to grow as a protest party without taking on responsibilities in the assembly.
Supporters of a proportional representation system argue that it would lead to a fairer representation of all political views in the National Assembly, ensuring that the majority of citizens’ opinions are reflected in decision-making processes. By moving towards a proportional system, it is believed that it will lead to a more stable political environment and encourage a culture of compromise and cooperation among different political parties. This shift is seen as essential to rebuilding trust in the democratic process and reducing voter apathy.
One of the main concerns with the current majority voting system is that it could potentially allow a party like the RN to gain a disproportionate amount of power despite not having broad support from the population. The fear is that if the RN were to gain a majority of seats in the National Assembly, it could implement its extremist agenda without opposition, leading to policies that are anti-democratic, xenophobic, and authoritarian. Critics argue that the current voting system could enable the rise of radical parties like the RN and pose a threat to democratic values and freedoms in France.
In conclusion, many are calling for urgent changes to the voting system in the National Assembly to move towards a proportional representation system that accurately reflects the diversity of political opinions in French society. The current majority voting system is seen as flawed, as it allows minority groups to govern without taking into account the views of the majority and has led to a growing sense of disillusionment with the democratic process. By adopting proportional representation, it is believed that France can establish a more stable and inclusive political system that fosters compromise, cooperation, and the protection of democratic values.
