Most people are happy with their French mayor, new poll shows
It comes as mayors themselves say their job is getting tougher
Approval for mayors in France is even higher among young people and in rural communities
sylv1rob1/Shutterstock
Most people in France are happy with their local mayor, a new poll has shown, although mayors themselves are claiming that the job is getting increasingly difficult due to government budget cuts.
Mayors in France are meeting for their 106th congress, le Congrès des maires, in Paris today (Tuesday, November 19).
Government budget cuts are high on the agenda, with many mayors saying that the budget changes imposed by Prime Minister Michel Barnier are making it tougher to exercise their mandates.
Local authorities are being asked to make savings of €5 billion by 2025, the government has said, with some mayors stating that the expected budget cuts will actually amount to €11 billion.
High approval ratings
However, despite these increased difficulties, a new Ifop poll and report* - timed to coincide with the event - found that 70% of people in France are satisfied with their elected mayor.
This is true among all sections of the population, regardless of age, income or vote in the last elections.
Young people are particularly satisfied (74% of 18-24 year-olds) and those in rural communities even more so (77%).
This approval represents a sharp rise in comparison to recent years. In 2017, 61% of French people said they were satisfied with their mayor, a similar figure to the 64% in 2014. A 70% approval rating is the highest seen in a poll since 2007.
There are similar levels of approval when it comes to mayors’ actions too.
71% are satisfied with the actions taken during the last term of office
70% are happy with the use of taxes by the municipality
52% are in favour of re-electing their current mayor
55% said they want the current team in office to continue its work
Mayors’ malaise
Despite these high approval ratings, more than half of mayors are considering not standing for re-election according to the AMF (Association des maires de France), with the Centre de sociologie des organisations.
The figures show::
80% say that their physical or mental health has been affected by their term of office
86% have experienced sleep disturbances
91% have experienced moments of “weariness”
The causes of this include a lack of resources, and heightened tension and aggression from some constituents.
Over the past few years increased numbers of mayors have complained publicly of rising tensions and difficulties in their role.
Read also: Plan revealed to protect mayors in France from violence and threats
For example, in October, the mayor of the town of Pibrac (Haute-Garonne, Occitanie), Camille Pouponneau, said that she was stepping down from her post due to its impact and “deterioration of her mental and physical health”. She said this meant she was “no longer able to carry out her duties with the necessary distance and energy”.
*The poll was conducted by Ifop online, on a representative sample of 2,002 people living in France, aged 18 or over, from October 31 to November 1, 2024.
