Political Life Tops French Citizens' Concerns Amid Debate Over Public Media Bias

A recent survey reveals that political life has emerged as the primary concern for French citizens in 2025, overtaking inflation and purchasing power for the first time in recent years. According to a quarterly study conducted by Cevipof and ObSoCo, 30% of respondents identified political issues as their foremost worry, compared with 27% for inflation and purchasing power. Other concerns included justice and crime (24%), national budget and debt (21%), and immigration (20%). This shift signals significant changes in public priorities, with trust in political figures declining due to personal delegitimization of the President, institutional challenges to the Fifth Republic, and a widespread perception of politicians as disconnected and self-serving. Interestingly, political concerns do not show increased polarization; 37% of left-leaning respondents prioritize political ethics versus 25% on the right. The survey, which gathered nearly 4,000 responses through open-ended questions, also highlighted greater fragmentation in public worries, with traditional issues like unemployment dropping dramatically from 65% in 2015 to just 7% in 2025.

Simultaneously, France is witnessing a contentious debate concerning the neutrality of its public audiovisual media. Political figures and certain media groups, notably those associated with Bolloré, have long accused the public broadcaster of a left-leaning bias. This has led to repeated attacks, budget cuts, calls for reforms, and threats of privatization, thrusting the public audiovisual sector into the center of a cultural and political struggle. A parliamentary commission of inquiry has been established to assess whether the public audiovisual media truly lacks neutrality and whether reforms are necessary. This scrutiny raises broader democratic issues, with questions emerging about the relationship between criticism of public media and the safeguarding of democratic institutions.

Together, these developments underscore the evolving political landscape and highlight the challenges facing French democracy. As trust in political figures wanes and debates over media impartiality intensify, the upcoming presidential candidates will need to address a complex array of public concerns while navigating institutional tensions.