French Election Update : Far Right’s Battle, Purchasing Power and Pension Reform

Macro
CD
Christopher Dembik

Head of Macro Analysis

Summary:  The far right's big battle continues. The National Rally's leader Marine Le Pen and the independent far right candidate Eric Zemmour are neck-to-neck in polls. Emmanuel Macron is still ahead of the crowd. He is likely to declare his candidacy in the last stage of the 2022 presidential campaign, perhaps in February next year. Expect a profusion of proposals to support purchasing power in the context of higher inflation, and potentially a new debate on pension reform.


French Election Preview published: We have published our preview for the 2022 April presidential election. It gives a broad overview of the current state of French politics and the main reforms which are currently put forward by the lead candidates. See here for the full report.

Zemmour is about to accomplish what Le Pen has failed to do : He is building an alliance between the Conservatives and the popular classes. He attracts both Le Pen’s and a large portion of center right voters who voted for François Fillon in 2017. These conservative voters mostly belong to the old Catholic bourgeoisie. Some of them demonstrated against the same-sex marriage in 2013. An IPSOS research released on 23 October shows 34.8% of Le Pen’s voters and 24.7% of Fillon’s voters in 2017 would now vote for Zemmour (see below chart). This is the first time such a political alliance emerges. Zemmour’s momentum has forced Le Pen to switch back to radical proposals in recent weeks. She proposed to remove allowances allocated by the State to the families of offenders and to evict them from social housing, for instance. But it is uncertain her tougher stance on immigration and security will be enough to mobilize her electoral base. It is still early days. The French presidential election is usually full of surprises. Little more than a fifth of the vote can clinch a place in the final. Zemmour only needs 4% or 5% additional votes to overtake Le Pen and make it to the second round. It’s doable, in our view. The battle will continue. It will get tougher and dirtier. Expect skeletons in Zemmour’s closet to be exhumed, especially about sexual misconduct with women.

Time is on Macron’s side : In France, the incumbent president usually announces running for a second term at the last minute : one month before the first round for the Socialist president François Mitterrand in 1988 and two months before for the center right president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012, for instance. We believe that Macron will do the same. There is no reason to rush. His electoral base is very solid. The center consolidates around him according to all the polls. He may declare his candidacy in February next year – less than three month before election day. Meanwhile, he will let the other candidates struggle for the second and third places. We see a 70% chance Macron will be re-elected for a new five-year term until 2027. 

A profusion of proposals to support purchasing power : The energy crisis is hitting France. October CPI jumped to 2.6% year-over-year – the highest level since 2008. Inflation is likely to remain elevated at least until the end of 2022 according to the Ministry of Economy, Bruno Le Maire. All of this pushed the presidential candidates to make a profusion of proposals to support purchasing power : energy check, tariff shield, basic income or wage increases for low-paid workers. But very few details are known about financing. The floodgates of public money which opened « whatever the cost » to support the economy during the pandemic have put the subject of financing in the background. And the candidates have all interest in avoiding this sensitive subject. 

The pension reform will be back: Due to the pandemic, Macron put on hold his signature pension reform. It aimed to merge France’s multiple existing state pension schemes into one unique points-based scheme. The reform will be back on the agenda soon or later. It will be part of Macron’s economic platform in our view. An April 2019 poll for insurer AG2R La Mondiale Matmut found that 45% of the French want the introduction of a mixed pension system based on state pension and private pension. The presidential candidates should think about it twice. In the United States, a working paper released in October by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis found that three million Americans decided to retire earlier than they would have due to the surge in asset prices – both real estate and stock market. The increase in stock market assets has boosted private pension savings since the outbreak. This should definitely be part of the discussions on pension reform in France. 

Source : IFOP, 23 October 2021. Far left: Artaud, Poutou and Mélenchon. Center left: Hamon. Center: Macron. Center right: Fillon. Far right: Dupont Aignan and Le Pen. How to read it: 0.1% of Artaud's voters in 2017 would vote now for Zemmour. 

On the same topic :

The Center Consolidates Around Emmanuel Macron, 20 October 2021

The Far Right’s Big Battle, 04 October 2021

A Crowded Field of Candidates, 31 August 2021

Guide to the French presidential election, 26 July 2021

Quarterly Outlook

01 /

  • Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    The Fed started the US rate cut cycle in Q3 and in this macro outlook we will explore how the rate c...
  • Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Quarterly Outlook

    Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    After a period of historically high equity index concentration driven by the 'Magnificent Seven' sto...
  • FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    As we enter the final quarter of 2024, currency markets are set for heightened turbulence due to US ...
  • Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperfo...
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynami...
  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the "two-lane economy," European equities, energy commodities, and the impact of US fiscal p...
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Quarterly Outlook

    Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain ...
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities i...
Disclaimer

The Saxo Group entities each provide execution-only service and access to Analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Rules of Engagement and (v) Notices applying to Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
- Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-hk/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo or its affiliates.

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited
19th Floor
Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower
12 Queen’s Road Central
Hong Kong

Contact Saxo

Select region

Hong Kong S.A.R
Hong Kong S.A.R

Saxo Capital Markets HK Limited (“Saxo”) is a company authorised and regulated by the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong. Saxo holds a Type 1 Regulated Activity (Dealing in Securities); Type 2 Regulated Activity (Dealing in Futures Contract); Type 3 Regulated Activity (Leveraged Foreign Exchange Trading); Type 4 Regulated Activity (Advising on Securities) and Type 9 Regulated Activity (Asset Management) licenses (CE No. AVD061). Registered address: 19th Floor, Shanghai Commercial Bank Tower, 12 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Trading in leveraged products may result in your losses exceeding your initial deposits. Saxo does not provide financial advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation. Please click here to view the relevant risk disclosure statements.

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-hk/about-us/awards.

The information or the products and services referred to on this site may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and services offered on this website are not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity residing in the United States and Japan. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. AppStore is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.