Democracy in France - statistics & facts
In 2023, France was deemed the 23rd most democratic country in the world, according to the Democracy Index. While France had a decent score of 8.1 points from a maximum of 10, with higher scores indicating a healthier democracy, this was far below the top five countries, especially Nordic countries such as Norway or Sweden. When looking at the reasons France trailed these countries, high abstention rates and mistrust in political figures, are some of the main factors.
In 2024, with abstention rates being particularly high among the youth, political leaders like Jordan Bardella, were particularly present on social media, seeking the attention of France's younger voters. Moreover, on June 16, 2024, in the tense context shaped by Macron's dissolution of the National Assembly following a far-right historical win in the European elections, Kylian Mbappé captain of France's football team, urged young people to vote in the parliamentary elections, on June 30 and July 7, 2024.
This article was used several times throughout the Fifth Republic, but more than 20 times by Macron’s former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Prime Minister Borne was specifically criticized when she used it to pass the pension reform in 2023, while the country was going through significant social mobilization and monthly demonstrations. This has led the French to be mistrustful of national political institutions. Indeed, according to a survey conducted in January 2024, only just 28 percent of French people said that they trusted the French government.
Electoral abstention
One of democracy’s pillars and the most direct ways for people to choose their representatives is through the vote and democratic elections. However, in recent years, France experienced high rates of abstention, even during important elections such as the presidential election of 2022. That year, Emmanuel Macron's legitimacy was questioned after he was re-elected but not without high abstention, which led the President to a weak victory against Marine Le Pen and her far-right party.In 2024, with abstention rates being particularly high among the youth, political leaders like Jordan Bardella, were particularly present on social media, seeking the attention of France's younger voters. Moreover, on June 16, 2024, in the tense context shaped by Macron's dissolution of the National Assembly following a far-right historical win in the European elections, Kylian Mbappé captain of France's football team, urged young people to vote in the parliamentary elections, on June 30 and July 7, 2024.
Use of article 49.3
Apart from high abstention rates under Emmanuel Macron’s government, French democracy has seen the increasing use of the 49.3 article of the Constitution. This article allows the Prime Minister to engage the government's responsibility and adopt a reform without facing the Parliament's vote. The use of this article was usually seen as a “passage enforced” by the government over the Parliament, making it not very popular among the French population, and often considered to go against France's democratic system and procedures.This article was used several times throughout the Fifth Republic, but more than 20 times by Macron’s former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Prime Minister Borne was specifically criticized when she used it to pass the pension reform in 2023, while the country was going through significant social mobilization and monthly demonstrations. This has led the French to be mistrustful of national political institutions. Indeed, according to a survey conducted in January 2024, only just 28 percent of French people said that they trusted the French government.
