Only 22% of French people trust politics, according to the 17th wave of the Cevipof barometer, a figure far below that of European neighbors. This disarray stems from 18 months without a majority in the National Assembly, fostering a sense of democratic inefficiency. Ahead of the March 2026 municipal elections, French voters remain committed to voting despite their doubts.
The 17th wave of the political confidence barometer, conducted by OpinionWay for Sciences Po's Center for Political Research (Cevipof) from January 12 to 28, 2026, among 3,166 voters, reveals a collapse in trust in French institutions. Only 22% of respondents express confidence in politics, compared to 45% in Germany, 44% in the UK, and 40% in Italy. Similarly, 23% believe democracy works well in France, while 76% consider voting useful but judge the democratic system to malfunction in the same proportion.
This decline has intensified following the June 2024 snap legislative elections, which left the National Assembly without a clear majority for a year and a half. Confidence in this institution falls to 20%, the lowest level since the barometer's creation in 2009, down four points from 2025 and nine from 2024. Even among executives and higher professions, it does not exceed 29%.
The French appear more distrustful and pessimistic than their European counterparts, tempted by withdrawal amid political stalemate. The barometer warns of a 'state of political anomie' that could complicate the 2027 presidential election.
In parallel, a separate study published on February 9, 2026, by Le Sens du service public, the Jean Jaurès Foundation, and Casden Banque Populaire, based on an OpinionWay poll of 2,000 people, shows strong attachment to local public services. More than 70% of French people report satisfaction with their quality in their commune, although 73% believe they lack resources. 'The expressed confidence encourages optimism,' analyzes Johan Theuret, co-founder of the Le Sens du service public collective.
These findings come two weeks before the municipal elections on March 15 and 22, where mayors remain figures of trust, as noted in a July 2025 Cevipof survey.
