Green parties in hard times

Abstract

Europe-Écologie-Les Verts (EELV) has been part of the French party system for 30 years, securing parliamentary representation and being part of coalition government twice, from 1997 to 2002 and since May 2012, following the latest presidential and legislative elections. The recent electoral successes of the party at the 2008 local, 2009 European and 2010 regional elections have turned scholarly attention to the party’s strategy and electoral dynamic. However, this revived interest has not triggered research on the socio-economic and ideological profile of the French Green voter. Using the 2012 CEVIPOF French Election Study, this article investigates the demographic and attitudinal composition of the French Green voter in the 2012 presidential election. Findings show that the EELV voter’s profile, characterized by left-libertarianism, support for the European Union and environmental awareness, distinguishes them from right-wing voters as well as from ideologically proximate electorates of Front de Gauche and Parti Socialiste.