Abstract
What factors motivate voters to support independent candidates? In which areas are independent candidates most successful? Independent candidates, often referred to as citizen activists, generate debate among many journalists before elections. For some of them, the concept of an independent candidate or "civic activist" is suspect, as they see it as a more pragmatic route into politics (especially at the municipal level) than through party structures.
However, there are also views that defend this situation, arguing that their motivation is more altruistic than careerist and that the presence of more civic spirit would only benefit politics. Most independent candidates face a lack of experience and do not have the support of a political party that could prepare them for the role or help them to manage it.