'French employees who vote for the far right feel isolated and are more distrustful of their colleagues'

Ahead of France's local elections on March 15 and 22, three economists from the HEC business school – Yann Algan, Antonin Bergeaud and Camille Frouard – examined why private-sector employees vote for the Rassemblement National (RN). The far-right party has become the leading political force among these workers (25.5%), including managers, challenging the image of the RN as a party reserved for those "left behind" by globalization.

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One week before France's local elections, electorate leans right, poll shows

The study, released on Monday, March 9 by HEC and entitled "Politics at work: Workplace experiences and political divisions among employees in France," surveyed 3,909 private-sector employees between 2024 and 2025. According to the economists, voting for the RN – like any anti-establishment vote – is largely explained by subjective factors, such as trust in others and overall life satisfaction. These attitudes are largely shaped at work. Le Monde spoke to Algan, an expert in economics, trust and well-being within organizations and societies.

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