Pierre Maudet legitimized by the people: the elites' deluded momentum

In Geneva, Pierre Maudet came second in the first round of the race for the Council of State. His former party, the Parti libéral-radical (PLR), is suffering as a result. But it's the sanctimonious journalists who should be feeling the pinch today. This situation highlights yet another gap between the media elites and the people.

For much of the media in French-speaking Switzerland, Pierre Maudet was the only one left to believe in himself. Spitting on Maudet, recalling at every turn his trip to Abu-Dahbi - which earned him a conviction on February 22 for accepting an advantage - and his lies, while mocking his perseverance in remaining in politics, had become the height of chic. Just like the praise for short circuits or the support for Black Lives Matter. «Ah that Maudet...» Shooting at an ambulance is bad enough in itself. But let's move on.

Let’s also set aside this new form of judgment—the «public-media verdict»—which causes an accused person, long before the trial, to be subtly associated with a guilty party in the public imagination. «Our readers are clamoring for more,» some newspapers proclaim when someone dares to question their so-called “investigations,” which border on destroying the presumption of innocence. It’s true that readers are clamoring for more. Perhaps because they’ve grown accustomed to it.

The common enemy as a group condition

That's not where the problem lies. Rather, it lies in that old psychological truth: for a group to form, it needs a common enemy. And so the method, obviously unconscious most of the time, is ready-made for belonging to the category of «good people»: howl with the wolves in the direction of a scapegoat presented as the last of the bastards. Before another is chosen. And pretending that the rest of the world is good.

And so, on March 7, in the first round of the election to the Geneva Council of State, ejected from his own party - the PLR Genevois - and mocked by journalists and other «right-thinking» individuals, Pierre Maudet won 22.8% of the vote, taking second place after the Green Fabienne Fischer. What the elites took to be a foregone conclusion has turned out to be an unforeseen scenario: a population expressing itself against their advice!

The people have thus democratically endorsed Maudet, considering his actions (whether already taken or promised), his stature, and his vision to be more important than his narcissistic and legal missteps. This has a Sarkozy-like feel to it. No one should be surprised. In the second round, however, it seems difficult to imagine him winning, with the PLR having withdrawn as expected and the PDC having entered the race. But at the same time, we must keep in mind that Pierre Maudet, now certain to be a force to be reckoned with, is more determined than ever.

Write to the author: [email protected]

Photo credit: Wikimedia CC 4.0

You've just read an open-access commentary. Debates, analysis, cultural news: subscribe to support us and get access to all our content!