At the top of the iceberg are images. Like these young activists throwing paint on Matignon, Bercy or the Ministry of Ecological Transition at the start of the year. Like these streamers, these very influential game players, insulting the President of the Republic in videos in September 2022 when the latter had congratulated them for the organization of a climate-related event. Or like these young people marching against the pension reform, some brandishing the sign “No planet, no retirement”. Ultra-politicized radicals sweep away the advisers of power.
But, below the waterline of the iceberg, there are also the urns where the melting is sensitive. In the first round of the 2022 presidential election, Emmanuel Macron arrived behind Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen among 25-34 year olds. A category where he was in the lead in 2017.
Before his first election to the Elysée, the Head of State was the despiser of rents and immobility, the herald of start-ups which pushed the youngest French people to “become billionaires” ; but since then, a malaise has arisen between the 45-year-old president and a large part of French youth. A simple misunderstanding, hope some ministers. Others see it as a divorce. “We no longer manage to carry the illusions, the ideals, the exaltation of the young, believes Barbara Pompili, MP (Renaissance) for the Somme and former Minister for Ecological Transition. Most of the great inventions were made by people under 35 and we talk to them as if it were better before without mentioning the new world to be built. »
While Brigitte Macron supports the wearing of school uniforms, the executive tries to plug the breach. In the coming weeks, Emmanuel Macron should announce the extension of the Universal National Service. On Monday, the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, will lead a National Refoundation Council devoted to ecology in front of an audience of twenty-somethings. But two big issues accentuate the divide: pension reform and climate transition.
Political bonus for seniors
For a few days, while the social movement has taken to the streets, the government has been monitoring high schools and universities. “When you have the youth on the street, it’s hard to get them to come home, summarizes Laurent Marcangeli, president of the Horizons group at the National Assembly. And, sometimes, young people manage to convince their parents or grandparents. »
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