10 Elections. A history of the European Parliament at the ballot box (1979-2024) June 2024 | Page 67

economic and social policy matters ’ 13 .
Indeed , while an overwhelming majority of French people approved of European integration , it actually seemed more like formal support than unreserved commitment , since only 35 % said that they would be willing to make personal sacrifices in order to achieve this European goal , compared to 60 % who would refuse to make such sacrifices 14 . A slight decline in the percentage of French people who were in favour of European unification was also recorded : it decreased from 61 % in autumn 1973 to 59 % in autumn 1978 , and dropped further to 56 % in spring 1979 15 .
The election of France ’ s 81 representatives to the European Parliament on 10 June 1979 did not spark much discussion despite the elections being widely acknowledged as important . Although they showed little interest in the European elections , French people did consider them to be important , but more because of the impact they would have on French politics than because of their importance for Europe as a whole . Throughout the campaign , national political issues therefore dominated and a major source of disappointment was the low turnout . In France , voter abstention reached an almost record high ( 38.8 %), with particularly high levels among young people ( 36 % of 28 to 34 year olds said that they had abstained ) and manual workers ( 30 % intentionally abstained from voting ) 16 .
13 . Figaro SOFRES survey , published in Le Figaro , 31 May 1979 . 14 . Figaro SOFRES survey , published in Le Figaro , 4 April 1979 .
15 . Eurobarometer No 9 , July 1978 ; Eurobarometer No 10 , autumn 1978 , Eurobarometer No 11 , spring 1979 .
16 . Le Nouvel Observateur , 23 July 1979 .
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