[cm-t]

Am french, I can say that most of the voters whatch TV and mainstream medias.

Owned by the french oligarchs (les milliardaires comme on "aime" les appeler). They actually successfully make people think "right wing" is not left or right (for far right) or even centrist (modem), and all the left spectrum is extremist terrorist. Racism, islamophobia, lgbtphobia, anti feminism, and others kyriarchies are normalized.

What make you think the elections are fairs in this context ?

[nickserv]

That's not what the term "free and fair" elections means though. To be considered fair, there can be no government interference of the voting process (ex: ballot stuffing, voter suppression) and its results must be accepted.

Media manipulation exists of course, all democracies have this to a certain extent. But France is actually not too bad compared to other countries.

[mog_dev]

That's true that populist and far right oligarchs control medias in France, hence they do manipulate voters with fearmongering and half-truths.

I want to separate this from a state-backed election fraud though. I would say that the election process is fair, but citizens are manipulated.

[blargthorwars]

The Eiffel Tower never used to have metal detectors for visitors. Why do you need them now? What's changed?