for the first time since 1984, more French people think that the party does not present a danger for democracy

For the first time since 1984, more French people think that the RN does not present a danger for democracy (45%), than think that it presents one (41%), reveals Thursday, December 7 a Verian-Epoka study for franceinfo and Le Monde.

This 2023 edition of the RN image barometer, which franceinfo was able to consult, also highlights the fact that support for the ideas put forward by the RN is strengthening, for the 7th consecutive year (33% of French people adhere to the party ideas in 2023). This level is close to the record observed in 2014 which was then 34%. At the same time, the proportion of French people who say they disagree with the ideas of the RN has never been so low since 1984 (54%).

Another point highlighted by the study, the fact that for the first time, more French people consider that the RN is a party which has the capacity to participate in a government: 43% think so, three points more than last year and 15 points more than in 2018.

RN deputies judged less aggressive than before

The hypothesis of access to power is also in less and less doubt in the eyes of the French. Two out of three (65%) now consider that the RN could one day come to power. As for the image of RN deputies, it is improving. The latter are now considered less aggressive. The image of Marine Le Pen is stable. The president of the RN group in the National Assembly is less and less perceived as the representative of a racist and xenophobic right.

The study notes, however, that the RN is “still far from being normalized”. Marine Le Pen “is still mostly perceived as a danger for democracy” and the RN “seems unlikely to change the practice of power” : for 43% of French people, the RN “would do neither better nor worse than the current government and for 63% of French people, it is a party which plays politics like the other parties”.