Municipal elections have traditionally been marked by high voter turnout, and the 2020 election should be no exception. One month before the vote on March 15 and 22, 66% of French people say they are interested in this election, according to a BVA poll conducted for Orange and Europe 1 *. This election should also be marked by low politicization, since nine out of ten French people say that it is local issues that will take precedence in the voting booth rather than national issues. And among the themes that they believe their next municipal team should take up as a priority, it is security, local taxes and the environment that take the lion's share.
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Safety, voters' number one concern
36% of those interviewed for our survey believe that safety should be the first concern of their local elected officials to improve the situation in their municipality on a daily basis. This subject is of particular concern to seniors, since it is cited as a priority by 44% of people aged 65 and over. Note also: a strong tropism around this issue in Ile-de-France, where 45% of Ile-de-France people talk about security in the first place.
Local finance, at the heart of concerns in small and medium-sized cities
Local taxes and local financial management should be a priority for 32% of the respondents. It is also the most cited theme among 50-64 year olds (42% of respondents). This problem particularly concerns small and medium-sized agglomerations, since 42% of the people who put financial questions on the front line live in municipalities of less than 20,000 inhabitants.
The environment, a topic that is of increasing concern
It must be believed that the fires in the Amazon and Australia, the mobilization of young people around Greta Thunberg or the floods in the Var have not left the French indifferent in recent months. Environmental protection is cited as the number one priority by 31% of French people surveyed in our study. Moreover, 35% of those polled say they are ready to vote environmentalist at the municipal level, when only 24% consider this choice for the next presidential election.
Social action, cultural life and secularism lagging behind
Among the other themes cited by the French who should be a municipal priority: the conditions of traffic and parking in their city (25%), the living environment (21%), cleanliness and public transport (20%), or still Education (19%). Conversely, social action, cultural life and secularism are the subjects least often mentioned by voters as having to be treated as a priority. They are respectively voted in favor only by 13, 11 and 6% of the respondents.
It will not be a sanction vote against Emmanuel Macron
Nine out of 10 people intending to vote say that local issues will take precedence over national issues when they cast their ballot in the ballot box.
But if almost two-thirds (65%) of those questioned explain that they will not take into account the current national policy when voting, a quarter of them (26%) nevertheless wish to use this moment to sanction Emmanuel Macron and the government. Employees and workers (35%) and supporters of the National Rally (53%) are among the most numerous to want to report their dissatisfaction to the executive. Conversely, only 9% want to affirm their support for the government during this local election.
And for those who want to sanction the executive, pension reform seems to have something to do with it. 91% of those wishing to sanction Emmanuel Macron and his government declare that the pension reform weighs in their decision and that 80% of those wishing to support the executive say the same.
The French are quite happy with their mayor but ...
A month and a half before the next municipal elections, more than 7 out of 10 French people say they are satisfied with the action of their mayor and his team. A high and increasing figure (+13 points) compared to 2014. The inhabitants of rural communities (80%) and the supporters of the presidential majority (81%) are more likely to be satisfied. A third of French people (36%) still hope that the municipal elections next March will be an opportunity to change their municipal team, a desire to see the cards reshuffle which is found more strongly among the voters of the National Rally (48% ).
A significant proportion of French people (14%) could also consider taking the plunge and presenting themselves as candidates for the post of mayor. A share that climbs to 20% among men, 33% among managers, 19% among 35-49 year olds and 27% of 18-34 year olds.
* Study carried out by BVA with a sample of 1,005 people aged 18 and over, interviewed by Internet from February 6 to 10, 2020.