June Notes – Paris’s “Three Highs”

Text and images by Chen Chi-Hsiang. June in Paris features three highs: The French parliamentary elections set a historical record with a 58% abstention rate in the second round; women parliamentarians make up 40%, shattering patriarchal glasses; and finally, temperatures reached 38°C around June 21 (Bastille Day). Is this divine will? Who knows. Reality is as it is; we can only face and bear it. Of course, nothing happens overnight.

This presidential election was dominated by mass media, as were the parliamentary elections. With traditional left and right parties hitting rocks and lacking leadership, numerous small parties and independents emerged, creating a dazzling array of candidates that most voters don’t even recognize. In the past, things seemed relatively calm, almost stagnant, with few political commentaries or flyers—only a few party stars on posters. Otherwise, one couldn’t tell which faction these new generations belonged to.

In the 2017 presidential runoff, French voters cast ballots with tears, resulting in a 25.38% abstention rate. Blank and invalid votes also hit records, accounting for 11.5% of registered voters—the highest since 1969. This reflects disillusionment with the alternating left-right power structure, alongside doubts about the non-left/right president’s capabilities and concerns for the future. In the first round of parliamentary elections, abstention exceeded half at 51%, proving that half the electorate had lost faith in the future, showing democracy is not flawless. In the second round, voters stopped casting “tearful ballots,” leading to an unprecedented 58% abstention rate. Ultimately, the President’s coalition (LREM/MDM) secured an absolute majority, but the high abstention proves deep distrust of the new president or complete loss of hope. While the government has an absolute advantage in parliament, these extra-institutional voices construct an invisible opposition force that cannot be ignored.

In today’s era where patriarchy is waning, it is common for women to lead national policies as presidents or prime ministers. Women are the hope for humanity’s future—let us hope so. Among France’s new parliamentarians, women account for 40% (up from 27% in the previous term), a necessary product of current social trends and a historic high for the French National Assembly.

Recall last year’s floods in France; now many regions face water shortages, affecting crops. Clearly, global climate anomalies are becoming more frequent and unpredictable. As the Taiwanese saying goes, “When people act unreasonably, heaven acts without principle.” Is climate a reflection of collective human consciousness? May’s weather was partly cloudy with no spring rains (cold mornings and evenings, temperatures lingering at late-winter levels, keeping warm clothes out of storage), much like the presidential election, appearing exceptionally unstable.

Paris’s weather finally cleared in June. The sun smiled and appeared, welcoming summer with gentle breezes and bright skies. Many people lounged lazily in the sunlight at outdoor parks. Unexpectedly, starting from the 18th, a fierce heatwave struck France. Paris basked under a scorching sun, with temperatures breaking 38-39°C. The sunlight was particularly fierce, feeling as if one would be roasted upon stepping outside. The unbearable heat made anyone who moved slightly sweat profusely. One day, seeking refuge from the heat in a cinema, I passed through the shade of trees in the Luxembourg Garden, where everyone was hiding from the sun. I decided to take a sweet nap under a large tree. These days, Paris is hotter than Taiwan. According to Météo-France, these are the hottest days in nearly a century, setting a new historical record for Paris since the 1870s (the Impressionist era). On the evening of June 21 (Music Festival), the temperature was still 37°C at 7 PM and 30°C near midnight. It is hard to imagine how people could fall asleep. Today remains scorching hot. I have taken a personal summer vacation, waiting for this heatwave to pass before returning to painting, as acrylic paint dries too quickly and is difficult to control.