In the 1980s, a French punk rock band popularized a rallying cry against the country’s far right, encapsulating the sentiment of the left with the phrase, “La jeunesse emmerde le Front National” (translated roughly as “The youth annoy the National Front”). This chant, still echoed at protests, reflects a historical trend where young people often leaned towards left-wing politics.
However, recent years have witnessed a notable shift as an increasing number of young French citizens have aligned themselves with the National Rally, a party previously considered too extreme for mainstream politics. The outcome of the recent parliamentary vote showed a surge in youth voter turnout across the political spectrum, with a significant portion of 18-to-24-year-olds supporting the National Rally.
According to a recent poll by the Ifop polling institute, a quarter of young voters in this age group cast their ballots for the National Rally, marking a substantial increase from just two years ago when the figure stood at 12 percent.
This shift cannot be attributed to a single factor. The National Rally has made efforts to moderate its image by distancing itself from overtly antisemitic elements that characterized its early days under the leadership of Jean-Marie Le Pen. Additionally, the party’s anti-immigrant stance has resonated with some young voters who perceive uncontrolled migration as a pressing issue.
Youth engagement in the political process is evident, with young people participating in anti-far-right gatherings and expressing their views on the direction of French politics following the recent elections.
