Political Stagnation and Youth Disengagement Mark France’s Road to the 2027 Presidential Election

France in 2025 is confronting a paradox of geopolitical urgency and political inertia as it approaches the 2027 presidential election. Despite rising external pressures demanding strategic autonomy, especially under President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular tenure, domestic politics remains largely stagnant. Political forces appear to be in a holding pattern, waiting for Macron to exit the national stage, with no significant developments anticipated before the election.

Defense spending has seen announcements of €6.5 billion for military modernization, and a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is confirmed to replace the Charles de Gaulle, with projected costs exceeding €10.2 billion extending beyond 2027. However, these proposals remain entangled in budgetary constraints, with France’s public debt escalating to €3,482 billion or 117.4% of its national wealth. The political deadlock is further exacerbated by the fading culture of compromise that once characterized earlier republics, and continual instability exemplified by the rapid dismissal of two prime ministers within eighteen months.

Overlaying this political stagnation is a growing gap between the political class and France’s youth. A recent survey reveals that 74% of young people feel unrepresented, with voter abstention among youth increasing by 10 percentage points since 2002. Despite widespread disenchantment, elite political institutions like Sciences-Po continue to attract students committed to political engagement, striving to prepare future leaders who might revitalize the political landscape. Mathilde Ollivier, a 29-year-old Sciences-Po alumna and the youngest senator representing the ecological party EELV, embodies this new generation of political actors.

This contrasted picture highlights a nation caught between urgent needs for strategic renewal and a political system struggling to adapt. As France moves closer to 2027, the challenge remains how to overcome inertia and bridge the divide with a disillusioned youth demographic to ensure a robust democratic process.

"Nothing serious is expected to happen before the 2027 election," political analysts summarize, reflecting a widespread sense of political stagnation. Yet, the ongoing involvement of young elites through institutions like Sciences-Po holds a cautious optimism for renewal in the longer term.