Presidential election 2027: from the ecological challenge to budgetary constraints, the shift in French priorities

Expectations surrounding the protection of purchasing power, energy sovereignty and the effectiveness of public policies now appear to be closely linked and structuring factors in the upcoming debate.

In this context, the Hellio group, an expert player in energy management, wanted to better understand the evolution of the French people's view of energy and their expectations in terms of transition and support.

Through an Ifop study for Hellio[1], energy now appears as an economic and social issue, before being an ecological issue, with cost control emerging as a central priority.

Key findings from the Ifop study for Hellio “The French public’s view on energy issues one year before the presidential election”:

• 79% of French people place the fight against rising energy bills at the top of their energy priorities (+13 points in 4 years).
• 45% believe that their energy expenses weigh heavily on their monthly budget; 27% often forgo holidays, 15% their car, 12% food purchases, 8% medical care because of their energy bill.
• 57% are sensitive to energy savings to the point of partially reducing their comfort.
• 89% say that international conflicts reinforce their concerns about energy.
• 42% consider nuclear energy to be the most interesting for the future of France (+10 points in 1 year).
• 83% consider energy renovation of housing a priority, but the intention to carry out work falls to 37% (-6 pts vs 2022).
• 50% believe that renovation aid is poorly targeted; only 45% feel they are sufficiently supported to undertake work.
• 30% of voters consider energy and environmental issues to be decisive for their vote in the presidential election.

According to François Kraus, Director of the Politics and Current Events division at Ifop: "In the context of an energy crisis, this study highlights a rehabilitation of nuclear power as a response to the dual geopolitical and economic anxieties, and a decline in the use of renewables, perceived as too costly and/or unsuitable for local areas. In a presidential campaign where the issue of mandatory spending will weigh heavily, the energy transition should therefore move beyond purely environmental concerns to become a response to the country's economic and social vulnerabilities."

Energy is becoming primarily a question of purchasing power.

Amidst pressures on purchasing power and household budgets, combating rising energy bills has become the top energy priority for the French: 79% consider it "absolutely essential," a 13-point increase compared to 2022, far ahead of energy independence (72%) and nuclear safety (67%). Conversely, the development of renewable energies, long a central theme in the energy debate, has declined by 10 points in four years (51%).

This result reflects a reversal of hierarchy in an economic context marked by increasingly constrained trade-offs: energy is no longer only seen from the perspective of transition or sovereignty, but as an immediate economic issue that weighs on everyday choices.

Beyond the perception of priorities, the study highlights a concrete impact on daily life: 45% of French people report that energy expenses weigh heavily on their monthly budget. Energy is thus becoming a key factor in consumption choices.

• 27% say they are giving up on holidays;
• 15% for car use;
• 12% on certain food purchases.

These sacrifices affect essential needs and are increasing. Furthermore, 57% of French people say they are sensitive to energy savings to the point of partially reducing their comfort, a frugality that is more imposed than chosen by a large part of the population.

According to Thomas Lam, Member of Parliament for the 2nd constituency of Hauts-de-Seine: “This survey confirms that energy has become a social issue before it is an environmental one. However, the French are not turning their backs on the energy transition. While 45% of them say they experience energy as a heavy burden, two solutions stand out in public opinion: nuclear power to ensure our energy security and energy-efficient renovations to reduce daily bills.”

Reducing consumption: energy renovation, a priority lever that has not yet translated into "action"

In a context of persistent pressure on purchasing power and the search for concrete solutions to sustainably reduce household energy expenditure, energy renovation is very clearly emerging as a priority.

83% of French people consider energy-efficient home renovations a priority. This is the measure deemed most effective for reducing energy consumption in France, ahead of energy-efficient renovations of public buildings (77%), the development of renewable energies (71%), the development of sustainable transport (70%), and energy conservation and reduced consumption (62%). However, in a context where households are facing increasingly tight financial constraints, this conviction is not translating into action: only 37% of French people say they are considering energy-efficient renovations, a decrease of 6 percentage points compared to 2022.

This discrepancy is partly explained by a lack of operational support in an environment where the complexity of the procedures is a significant obstacle: only 45% feel sufficiently informed and supported to undertake renovations. It also reflects a critical perception of the effectiveness of the subsidies: 50% believe that renovation grants are poorly targeted. Conversely, only 7% consider these subsidies sufficient and well-targeted. The obstacle, therefore, lies not in the desire to renovate but in the perceived complexity of the process, the lack of clarity regarding the programs, and the absence of end-to-end support.

Geopolitics and nuclear power: energy is becoming a matter of national sovereignty

In a context of ongoing international tensions and geopolitical instability that directly impacts energy policies, the French increasingly perceive energy as a matter of national security and sovereignty. Within this framework, 89% of the French believe that current conflicts reinforce their concerns about energy.

This concern, fueled by a context of dependence and uncertainty regarding supplies, has translated into a marked resurgence of interest in nuclear power, now considered a key solution for the future of the French energy mix. When asked which type of energy they considered "most promising for France's future," 42% of French people cited nuclear power first (+10 points in one year), far ahead of solar (20%, -9 points), reflecting a shift in energy priorities within a context of international tension.

According to Pierre-Marie Perrin, Director of Public Affairs and Communication for the Hellio Group: “Energy has changed its status: it is no longer just an environmental or technical issue, it has become a daily constraint for millions of French people. Behind the figures, there are very real sacrifices, sometimes affecting essential needs. Our collective responsibility is now clear: to make the energy transition accessible, understandable, and above all, compatible with purchasing power, by providing concrete support to the French people in their choices and projects.”

[1] Methodology: Ifop study for Hellio conducted via online self-administered questionnaire from March 24 to 26, 2026, with a nationally representative sample of 2,004 people, representative of the population residing in metropolitan France aged 18 and over. Representativeness ensured by the quota method (gender, age, occupation) after stratification by region and type of urban area.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.