Presidential: eight out of ten young people ready to vote, one in two "certain"

Europe 1 with AFP 6:51 p.m., February 22, 2022

In an overall negative perception of the political landscape and institutions, eight out of ten young people are ready to go to the polls but only one in two is certain to vote, according to the results, released on Tuesday, of a FAGE survey conducted by IPSOS approaching the presidential election.

Alignment of their priorities with the programs of the candidates

"Eight out of ten young people are ready to go to the polls" but only "one in two is sure to vote", warned Étienne Mercier, director of the opinion service of IPSOS, during a press conference on the survey carried out in January "Young people and the presidential election".

"They are waiting for their priorities to be brought into line with the programs of the candidates," he added.

The survey reveals that among a sample of more than 2,000 young people aged 18 to 30, 84% of students, 83% of young workers and 71% of young job seekers intend to vote, but that only 49 % are certain to move.

"Youth is one of the audiences that suffers the most", which "is very precarious", warned Paul Mayaux, president of the Federation of General Student Associations (FAGE), particularly on the side of the "student public".

Because of this "precariousness, it has priorities and concerns that emerge during the electoral campaign, which are specific to it", he noted, highlighting in particular that today's youth is weakened by the health and economic crisis.

78% of young people do not trust political parties

With priority concerns: purchasing power, the environment and social inequalities.

On these themes, but also many others, the survey reveals that more than one in two young people (57%) believe that their concerns are not taken into account in the presidential campaign.

78% of young people do not trust political parties.

Young people "do not feel listened to at all, the subjects which worry young people are not at all present in the campaign, politicians do not care enough about what their generation thinks", hammered Mr. Mercier.

This is the opinion shared by Ana Boukhitine, 23, present at the conference.

"But above all, the way we are addressed is not the right one", says the student.

"The speech of our politicians, it is quite vague for us", admits for his part Daniel Gualotuna, 26, bookseller, also came to share his concerns.

"I would much more like us to talk about concrete solutions", wishes Enzo Gallet, 21 years old.

For this law student, "the disaster is at our doorstep", and this is "my main motivation for going to vote".