In the run-up to the 2026 municipal elections, the study « Town Councils: renewing ties with civic engagement », signed by Benjamin Morel for Institut Terram and Laboratoire de la République on the basis of Ifop data, takes stock of democratic disengagement at a local level. Based on an unprecedented survey of 10,000 French citizens, and supplemented by academic research, European experience and analysis of speeches by elected representatives, it proposes a map of current weaknesses and possible levers for citizen re-engagement.
Long regarded as the bedrock of democratic life and the embodiment of the republican pact, the commune is undergoing a twofold crisis: that of commitment, marked by abstention, the difficulty of putting together lists and the rise in resignations; and that of the mandate, weakened by the centralization of the State, the complexity of standards and a lack of recognition. The erosion is particularly marked in small rural communities, where renewal is hampered by the departure of young people and the sheer size of the task, but also takes other forms in large cities and declining towns.
The study also highlights persistent inequalities: women remain largely under-represented (20% of mayors, 17% saying they are ready to run in 2026, versus 31% of men), while working-class groups and young people face specific obstacles. Lack of time, red tape, a feeling of incompetence and a lack of recognition are the main obstacles.
Despite these worrying findings, there is still potential for involvement: 24% of French people say they are ready to stand as candidates. The desire to « change things from the inside » (47%), to contribute to local life (45%), to give a voice to the forgotten (46%) or to counterbalance decisions deemed unfair (44%) are among the main driving forces. These aspirations sketch out the contours of a possible democratic rebound, provided that the mandate is enhanced, access to becoming a candidate is widened and participatory mechanisms strengthened.
Find the study on the websites of
Terram Institute
City councils: reconnecting with civic engagement – Institut Terram
Laboratoire de la République
City councils: a return to civic engagement – Laboratoire de la République
This opinion poll was conducted by Francois Kraus and Nicola Gadoni
