If you are a doctor, scientist or teacher, you are one of the rare professions in which a majority of French people trust. In any case, this is what the Ipsos global index on citizen confidence reveals, published Monday, November 6 by The echoes.
If we look more closely, the professions that inspire the most confidence are those that provide a protection mission. This is how at the foot of the podium are the military and the police, who fail to dethrone doctors, scientists and teachers, who remain the professionals most popular with the French. For 64% of them, members of the medical profession are reassuring figures. A result unchanged compared to 2021.
And while they have suffered from the Covid-19 pandemic, with the controversies surrounding vaccines, scientists are regaining some points of approval. In 2023, 59% of French people consider them trustworthy, compared to 56% in 2021.
Trust in police officers at lowest level in five years
Just behind, arrive the teachers, shaken by the assassination of three of them since 2020, who retain the confidence of a majority of French people. 52% against 51% in 2021, which allows them to climb to the third step of the podium and move ahead of the military, who have, for their part, lost popularity. While 55% of French people trusted them in 2018, and 52% in 2021, this year they are only 48%.
While the year 2023 was punctuated by demonstrations against pension reform during which police repression was strongly criticized by part of the political class, then by the riots following the death of Nahel, killed by a police officer with his service weapon, trust in police officers has never been so low in five years. The profession receives the approval of 47% of respondents, compared to 53% in 2018, the year of birth of the yellow vests, and nevertheless maintains its position in the top 5 of professions which inspire the most confidence.
Politicians, journalists, religious people, advertisers… A distrust that is reinforced
Far ahead of professions relating to media and politics. 40% of French people say they are suspicious of journalists. A percentage which rises to 57% for members of the government, and to 61% for the entire political class. Results close to those obtained in 2021. At the time, members of the government already provoked the rejection of a majority of French people (54%).
Perhaps more surprisingly, religious people, advertisers and bankers also crystallize a high level of distrust. In 2021, 78% of French people do not trust religious people. Even fewer of them give it to advertisers, who come up against a glass ceiling: only 1 in 10 French people perceive them as reliable.