Emmanuel Macron could “mention” a referendum on May 13 during a special TF1 program. An idea that seduces many French, according to a “live opinion” survey conducted by the Elabe Institute for BFMTV and published this Sunday, May 11.
83% of the French, of all population categories, are favorable for the organization of a referendum.
“We must change the relationship of citizens in political power,” said Prime Minister François Bayrou interviewed on this issue for BFMTV.
Before adding: “Yes, it is possible to organize it: it requires reflection with the proposal of a plan and a mode of consultation.”
Public spending, debt and taxes are essential
On what topic? Several subjects arise. If a referendum was organized in the coming months, most respondents, 59%, would like to be related to public spending, debt and taxes. This issue is particularly privileged in voters together and LR (65% and 66%). 54% of PBN voters are also favorable.
Prime Minister, François Bayrou, said at the beginning of May at the beginning of May to present a state reform plan for referendum and its expenses, while the Executive seeks to save 40 million euros in its 2026 budget. Note that it is the President of the Republic who is mainly placed in the organization of this consultation procedure.
In the second position equally with 52%: pensions and immigration. 22% of respondents directly opted for pensions and 21% of immigration.
PFN voters have 61% to desire a referendum about pensions. When immigration takes into account among the voters of the national demonstration with 81%.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, supplied again on May 6 for a consultation with the French on migration issues. “A referendum on immigration will be necessary, including the Constitutional Council,” he said in CNEWS and Europe 1. But many constitutionalists doubt that the maneuver is legally possible.
“The migration policy does not fall into the referendum field”
The question of immigration does not explicitly appear in Article 11 of the Constitution that frames the use of the referendum. The Head of State “can undergo the referendum any bill on the organization of public authorities, on the reforms related to the economic, social or environmental policy of the nation and the public services that contribute to it”, one can read there.
“The migration policy does not fall within the referendum field,” said Laurent Fabius, president of the Constitutional Council for nine years, to the world in 2024.
“Immigration is a very large issue, which can affect many areas of public action and that, therefore, is not only related to economic and social policies,” for its part judged with the Figaro The former general secretary of the Constitutional Council Jean-Eric Schoettl.
Emmanuel Macron has never declared that he wanted a referendum about immigration. He usually never mentioned the specific issues he has in mind. François Bayrou clearly closed the door to a consultation on immigration last January.
The end of life is also a subject coveted by the French. 43% want a referendum on the subject. On the other hand, the use of children’s screens, school rhythms and the proportional voting system for legislative elections are cited by less than a quarter of the French.
Sample of 1.00o of people, representative of residents of continental France of 18 years or more. The representativeness of the sample has been guaranteed in accordance with the quota method applied to the following variables: sex, age, profession, region and category of agglomeration. Internet questioning from May 6 to 7, 2025.
Source: BFM TV
