French Voters Lose Faith in Their Future

According to our most recent poll in France, a significant proportion of the electorate feel that their lives were moving in the wrong direction. However, while this disillusionment can be found in all segments of the electorate, our results indicate that it is most pronounced in women and people over 45. Additionally, voters who plan to vote for Marine Le Pen in the first round of the next race for the presidency are the most pessimistic about their future.

Moreover, the poll shows that more than half of French people declared that their financial situation had deteriorated over the last three months. People aged from 35 to 54 years expressed the most concern that the French government are not raking the right steps to address the cost-of-living crisis.

Across the entire sample, a majority of French voters say they are not optimistic about the direction in which their lives are heading. While economic strains have undeniably played a role in these sentiments, the data also hints at a broader sense of unease, tied to social and political factors. Yet, what stands out most sharply is the gender and age breakdown: female voters and those aged over 45 express the greatest concerns about the future, suggesting that certain groups feel more vulnerable than others in an increasingly unstable environment.

Delving deeper into the figures, the poll reveals that those who plan to vote for Marine Le Pen in the upcoming first-round presidential ballot hold the most pessimistic views. This correlation may not be a coincidence. Le Pen’s National Rally has long traded on a platform of offering protection from economic and cultural upheaval, focusing on issues such as job security, inflation, and social welfare. Many of Le Pen’s supporters argue that mainstream politicians have left ordinary French citizens behind, fuelling a climate of distrust toward those currently in power. It is perhaps this feeling of being “left behind” that correlates with the highest levels of apprehension about the future.

While alarmingly high pessimism rates among female voters, older demographics, and Marine Le Pen supporters grab headlines, the underlying issues—economic hardship, government mistrust, and perceived lack of empathy from political elites—affect a broad swath of the public.

Download the data tables for this poll.