Referendum: Pension reform, taxes, immigration... These are the questions the French are most looking forward to

Relatively discreet on the French scene in recent months, with the exception of surprise trips , Emmanuel Macron wants to regain control almost eleven months after the dissolution. This Tuesday, May 13, during an interview with TF1, the President of the Republic could announce the organization of one, or even several, referendums . A first since the "no" vote on the Constitution for Europe in 2005.

According to an Elabe survey for BFMTV, more than eight out of ten French people are in favor of organizing such a consultation, particularly among National Rally voters.

Regularly brandished by the Head of State in recent years, mentioned again during his New Year's address to the French people on December 31 , it could concern several themes.

The main issue on which French citizens would like to express their views relates to issues related to public spending, debt, and taxation. Cited by 59% of respondents, this issue ranks first among the most popular topics.

Prime Minister François Bayrou has also explained that he wants to hold a referendum on restoring public finances last April. This is a way for him to give himself some breathing room, as he risks being censured during the next state and social security budgets in the fall.

If the French agree to reduce public spending, it would then become very difficult for the National Assembly to overthrow the head of government.

Among the other priorities of the French, pension reform and immigration are tied at 52%. The first issue would allow us to "ask young people for their opinion" on the issue, a young woman told BFMTV.

On pensions, the idea of ​​a popular consultation launched by the Prime Minister in February had nevertheless aroused the anger of the social partners, who met in conclave to "improve" the reform of the transition to 64 years. This was enough to cool the executive's ambitions on this subject, which is mainly supported by New Popular Front voters (61% of those cited).

As for immigration, a favorite topic of the National Rally (83%), the idea of ​​a question being asked also seems unlikely. "A referendum on immigration will be necessary, including at the Constitutional Council," Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, however, judged in early May.

End-of-life issues then come up in 43% of survey responses. "It comes in fourth place; it's a topic that greatly motivates the President of the Republic's electorate. He could thus leave a mark on societal reform," Bernard Sananès, president of the Elabe polling institute, analyzed on BFMTV.

"He's in a dilemma: either he chooses topics that are very exciting but quite divisive, or less divisive topics that mobilize fewer French people. He could then end up with a turnout below 50%," he continues.

Other themes are cited by less than a quarter of French people, notably the use of screens for children and school schedules, as well as proportional representation.