In the 2002 presidential election, frustration with the system fueled strong support for the extremes, with Jean-Marie Le Pen, the leader of the far right, qualifying for the second-round runoff. In 2007, by contrast – and this constitutes real progress – a large segment of the French population is expressing its frustration with the system by being tempted to vote for the “extreme center,” i.e., Bayrou.
这一悖论是如何造成的呢？在2005年想要拒绝欧盟宪法的选票现在想要拒绝左右两翼的领导人。在2002年的总统大选中，人们对于法国体制的挫折感加剧了对极端份子的强大支持，极右翼领导人勒庞赢得了第二轮投票的资格。在2007年，与此相反，法国民众的很大一部分通过把票投给“极中间派”，也就贝鲁来表达对体制的不满，而这就构成了切实的进步。