Is immigration the primary concern of the French, as Marion Maréchal asserts?

The French are called to vote on Sunday June 9 for the European elections. But from the migration crisis, climate change, or even purchasing power, what are the issues that are most important to them? During a debate between candidates on BFMTV, Monday May 27, the head of the Reconquête list, Marion Maréchal, assured that immigration was “the first concern of the French”.

The candidate for La France insoumise, Manon Aubry, immediately replied that purchasing power was in reality the main priority. The far-right figure claimed to be based on a poll carried out by France 2 a few days earlier. Marion Maréchal reiterated her comments on Sud Radio on May 29, when she was questioned about the Russian offensive in Ukraine. Is the head of the Reconquest list telling the truth?

Investigation (PDF) Ipsos for France Télévisions was published on May 23. It was carried out from May 16 to 20 on a group of 11,531 people, a “national representative sample of the French population, registered on the electoral lists, aged 18 and over”. The respondents answered the following question in particular: “In your opinion, what should be the main priorities of the European Union in the coming years?”. They could give up to three answers. Immigration comes first (42%), ahead of the fight against climate change (32%) and the fight against inflation (31%).

For Mathieu Gallard, research director at Ipsos, “the theme of immigration has strengthened in recent months, to the point of reaching a historically high level before a vote in the European elections.” This trend can be explained by the perception of the EU’s field of competence by its citizens. “Many French people think that on social issues, the European Union does not have much influence, whereas on immigration, it has much more”he analyzes.

An Odoxa-Backbone Consulting survey for Le Figaropublished May 31 also places immigration at the top of the list “highest priority issues in the voters’ vote”, with 41%. This theme is slightly ahead of purchasing power (40%). This is followed by price increases (37%) and security (33%). Respondents answered a slightly different question than the one asked by Ipsos: “Which of the following issues will matter most to you when voting in the European elections?“. Here too they had the possibility of giving up to three answers. The survey was carried out on May 29 and 30 on the internet, on a representative sample of 1,005 French people.

However, a nuance is made in the survey: these figures do not concern all French people, but those who are “registered on the electoral lists and who are thinking of going to vote”. If we take all French people, the issue of immigration appears to be a priority for only 31%, according to an Odoxa study published on May 16. Purchasing power reached 46% of respondents and thus represents the main issue, followed by inflation (39%).

In the Ipsos survey carried out for Cevipof, The worldthe Jean-Jaurès Foundation and the Montaigne Institute, conducted from May 27 to 30 with 11,430 people, “the determining subjects in the choice of vote” are purchasing power (47%), well ahead of immigration (38%) and the health system (29%). The respondents constituted “a national representative sample of the French population, registered on the electoral roll, aged 18 and over”. They answered the question: “Among the following subjects, which three will you consider most in your vote choice for the European elections on June 9?”

Another Ifop-Fiducial survey for LCI, Le Figaro and Sud Radio, focusing specifically on “issues determining the vote”, was carried out from May 13 to 16 on 1,338 people, registered on the electoral lists, who could give four answers. It also ranks purchasing power at the top of the list (57%) ahead of immigration (38%), tied with the health system. The environment and climate occupy 4th place with 34%.